Does HSG179 apply to tidal pools and similar facilities where swimming is actively encouraged?
Yes, but not all parts are equally applicable. The sections on ‘General management of health and safety’ and ‘The practicalities of managing health and safety’ are generally relevant. Most of the advice in the section on ’Physical environment’ will not be relevant to naturally occurring features. However, you should take account of the guidance on man-made features, eg paragraph 87 on the design of steps and ladders, paragraph 101 on diving platforms, and paragraph 104 on water slides. Much of the section on ‘Supervision arrangements to safeguard pool users’ is relevant, but Table 2 (lifeguard numbers) and Figure 3 (continuous/occasional pool supervision) have been drawn up for standard, man-made pools. The remaining sections are largely irrelevant to open-water facilities.
