5 weekly pool maintenance tasks for technicians in training
There are many responsibilities that fall upon pool maintenance specialists, some of which can be delegated to others. However, figuring out which ones are appropriate can be challenging.
Weekly tasks are a good opportunity for newly hired maintenance technicians or staff members from other teams who want to learn more about or transfer to the maintenance department.
Figure out the do’s and don’ts
There will be certain responsibilities that some people can’t do, such as ones involving chemical handling. The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration requires people who deal with these substances to receive training and certification. Additionally, they have to wear protective gear. However, there are other tasks that technicians-in-training can tend to, including these five.
1. Non-machinery equipment check: Items such as the diving boards, lifeguard chairs, handrails and slides should be routinely checked for any loose or damaged parts. It’s a good habit for younger staff members to get into because they’ll learn that even the smallest details can impact the overall safety of the facility. Additionally, features outside the pool, such as the fence and the self-closing latches on the doors, should be looked over to ensure that they’re working properly.
2. Keep up with inventory: Various parts and fixtures have to be replaced over time by pool maintenance specialists. People can learn more about these items by tracking inventory. They can familiarize themselves with the various products and their expiration dates, if there are any. It also shows them the importance of keeping and maintaining documentation on maintenance equipment.
3. Assist with water quality logs: Another equally important monitoring tool is the water quality log. This is especially important for people who want to become trained and certified in pool chemical handling. Those who are already certified can teach maintenance specialists-to-be about the various chemicals and safety procedures when mixing them and adding them to the water. When they do take the certification course, they’ll have some knowledge about the various chemical compounds, which can give them a leg up in the class.
4. Spray down the deck: The heavy foot traffic that crosses a pool deck in addition to the wet environment leads to bacterial growth. Therefore, a routine cleaning of the deck should be done weekly. This is a relatively easy task, but it can take time, depending on the size of the facility. It’s a job that maintenance technicians have to do regardless of their rank, so maintenance specialists should learn the procedure early on.
5. Practice backwashing the filter: Debris collects quickly in community pools, so backwashing will be a process that maintenance technicians have to complete regularly. This is a great task for those in training because it requires working with the pump, which is the perfect opportunity for them to learn more about the driving part behind pool water sanitation. Certified specialists can perform this task the first few times, but after a while, people in training can try it.
It’s critical for seasoned maintenance technicians to supervise these tasks to ensure safety. These small but important tasks can allow employees in training to learn more about the equipment and the facility itself.
Details such as where the pump room is located and what kind of filter the pool uses make up the essential information that they’ll have to eventually learn. Familiarizing themselves with them now will most likely make them feel more comfortable as they begin to take on more responsibilities around the pool.
