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Brent September - October 2004 From the Wembley Observer
28.10.04
page 7 (reproduced in full) SWIMMERS at a Wembley sports centre were stopped from taking their early-morning dip last week because of problems with the pool hall's ventilation system. A spokesman for Vale Farm Leisure Centre in Watford Road, Sudbury, said condensation had built up overnight last Monday, due to equipment failure. He added: "At no stage was there any involvement of the chemicals used to treat the pool." Chemical Incident or Not? (These comment first posted on 31.10.04) I
was one of the early morning swimmers who after showering was stopped from
entering the pool at Vale Farm on October 19th.
The operator’s response as reported in the Observer
item above is puzzling. LC attributed the problem to a build up of condensation and claimed,
“At no stage was there any involvement of the chemicals used to treat the
pool.” On
that morning swimmers could smell chemicals from the changing rooms, something
we do not usually notice. When we got to the poolside the lifeguard told us that
the atmosphere was hurting his eyes. He
had been concerned enough to call the Duty Manager who decided to close
the pool Unadulterated
water vapour does not smell and does not irritate eyes. The Government funded
Health & Safety Laboratory provides a likely explanation for what happened.
Its website (http://www.hsl.gov.uk/case-studies/chlor.htm)
states: “The three chloramines (mono- and dichloramine and nitrogen
trichloride) are known to cause eye and respiratory irritation. Nitrogen
trichloride is of particular concern. It is hydrophobic and readily
outgases from the swimming pool water into the atmosphere, potentially
exposing attendants who might spend much of their working day at the
poolside.” Without adequate circulation of air there would be a build up of chloramines. While these are not directly added to the water they are a by-product of the chemicals used to disinfect the pool. The reference to a ventilation system might suggest that the pool hall has a means of extracting the atmosphere. I am not sure that this is the case. There is ducting to introduce new air. However, doors from the pool hall to the outside and the changing room doors frequently are left open. This suggests that there is inadequate venting even when the air duct is working. I am concerned by what appears LC's attempt to suggest chemicals were not involved. Public safety is best supported by frankness and not PR spin. Those who were exposed to the atmosphere of the pool that morning have a right to know exactly what it consisted of and will not be fooled into thinking it was just water. PB 7.4.04 An email from LC dated 4.11.04 says that the ducting is for extraction, not the introduction of new air. I still have concerns about the adequacy of the system as a whole. The email from LC continues to suggest that the incident was due to "steam". An email was sent to LC on 7.11.04 asking for a number of clarifications.) From:
Paul Burns Dear
Rez, My concerns about poor cleaning and safety at Vale Farm continue. On
Tuesday of this week I noted in the customer feedback diary that on opening
there was much debris in the pool and around it. I mentioned two used sticking
plasters on the surrounding floor. Forty-eight hours later, again first thing in
the morning, one of the sticking plasters is in exactly the same place,
alongside the lifeguard chair at the far end of the pool. There was also used
chewing gum on a window ledge and small rubbish in the space between the benches
that separate the two pools. Also
this morning in the men’s wetside changing room the cleaner’s tap had mud
underneath, as if someone has washed dirty boots there. Under the mat between
the changing room and the pool was another filthy pool of mud. You will recall
that a few months ago I drew attention to the accumulation of dirt under this
mat. It appears no routine cleaning of it is taking place. This
morning the showers were far too warm both before entering the pool and thirty
minutes later. There have been a number of complaints about excessive
temperatures recently. What is the council doing to ensure that swimmers have
access to reasonable temperatures? Today’s
Wembley Observer carries an item on page 7 under the heading, “Damp Shuts
Pool”. This refers to the incident last week when I was one of a number of
early morning swimmers who after showering were not able to use the pool.
According to the item, there were “problems with the pool hall ventilation
system”. Could you clarify what ventilation system this is referring to? The
only means of venting I am aware of is the propping open of doors. The
report also contains: “A spokesman for Vale farm Leisure Centre… said
condensation had built up overnight last Monday, due to equipment failure. He
added, ‘At no stage was there any involvement of the chemicals used to treat
the pool’.” I
was just one of the swimmers who could smell chemicals in the air from the
changing rooms and witnessed the lifeguard with tears in his eyes and heard him
complaining that his eyes were effected. The fumes were so strong I advised the
duty manager to immediately open all doors to vent the pool hall.
Given this, I find the report in the paper most unsatisfactory and ask
that the council provide the users who inhaled the atmosphere at the poolside
and in the changing rooms a fuller explanation. I
note that no explanation has been posted at the pool and I am not aware of any
other attempt to explain to the would-be swimmers involved what happened. It
is also worrying that the fumes were discovered only as people were about to get
into the pool. Does this mean no checks of the pool water are carried out before
swimmers enter the pool? I
request the data on the level of chemicals found in the pool immediately after
this incident and that we are provided with a full account of what contributed
to the incident. I
was concerned that the Lifeguard and Duty Manager did not seem clear as to what
to do in such an event. For example, if the Lifeguard was himself suffering from
the atmosphere, why did he let others into the pool area? Why were the doors of
the swimming hall not immediately opened? Did Vale Farm have a procedure for
what to do if chemicals are suspected of being in the pool hall atmosphere? Was
this procedure followed? From:
Paul Burns To:
Rez Cameron (Brent Council) Dear
Rez... One of the cubicles in the men’s wetside changing room had a lump of
shit, about the size of an almond near to the toilet paper dispenser. There were
also smears in the same area. The mess was there when I arrived at 6.35 and when
I left at about 7.15. It looked as if it had dried hard, but in any case, I
don’t think this is the work of an early morning swimmer. It should have been
obvious to anyone entering the cubicle. How can it either not be seen if proper
cleaning is taking place first thing in the morning or, if seen, just ignored? The
floor of the changing room as a whole had been cleaned in a desultory manner. It
was wet so presumably had been hosed down but much debris remained on the floor.
The floor of
the pool is still littered, including several large items that could have
removed with a scoop if not by someone equipped with goggles. There is also
smaller rubbish including two pieces of chewing gum. When is the pool vacuum
expected back? From:
Paul Burns Sent: Tuesday, September 14,
2004 This morning
Vale Farm was about as bad as I have seen it. When I arrived at 6.35 the floor
of the men’s wetside changing room was completely littered, toilets and
lockers obviously had not been cleaned. I went back to reception and told
Darren, the duty manager, who assured that the cleaners had been in. I find this
hard to believe. Darren declined my request to come and see the changing rooms.
At 7.10 the floor had been hosed down but not cleaned. There was much rubbish
still visible, especially lines of wet, black fluff. The end of the changing
room near the lobby had not been cleaned. The lobby itself is very grubby and
has long needed a deep cleaning. The area
around the pool was littered. Near the lifeguard’s post were the remains of a
soggy tissue. The area surrounding the pool was also littered, including two
used sticking plasters. At about 7pm a second lifeguard appeared and began to
wash the tissue (and other litter?) into the drain at the side of the pool. It
seems to me it would be better for the pool if as much litter as possible was
picked up first. Litter around the pool is an issue I have logged several times
in the feedback diary. Needless to
say the floor of the pool was full of debris. I know the vacuum cleaner is away
being repaired. I was told it went last Thursday. I wonder how a machine so
little used can break down so soon. When was it first realised the machine was
defective? Some weeks ago when I complained about litter in the pool someone
write alongside my comment in the feedback diary that the machine was not
working. The swimming
lane signs were not put up till about 6.50 am. At the far end
of the pool spare swimming lane dividers have been left so that there is little
space between them and the edge of the pool. The yellow hose from the corner of
the pool hall running into the pool has been without is hazard warning sign for
some days. I reported this on Sunday morning but no action has been taken.
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