• Implementing health and safety protocols to protect visitors from harm can significantly reduce the risk of liability.
• Invest in water safety gear, such as life jackets and pool mats, to help protect guests from drowning.
• Consider purchasing insurance coverage for your pool or beach resort to provide financial protection and peace of mind.
• Conduct regular staff training sessions to ensure staff members understand their roles and responsibilities and how to handle any situations that may arise.
Running a pool or beach resort comes with risks, and it is essential that business owners are aware of their potential liabilities. To help reduce risk, there are certain best practices that should be implemented on the property. Here’s a breakdown of what these strategies are.
Health & Safety Protocols
The first step in reducing risk is to put in place proper health and safety protocols for all employees and visitors on the property. By taking proactive steps to protect your visitors from harm, you can significantly reduce your liability risk if an accident occurs. This includes creating clear rules about the following:
Signage & Warnings
Posting clear signage and warnings about potential hazards is another key step for reducing risk. Ensure that pools, beaches, and other areas of the property are clearly marked with danger signs and warning labels. This will help to alert visitors to any potential risks.
Acceptable Behavior & Dress
Setting and enforcing rules about acceptable behavior and dressing at the beach or pool is important. This includes prohibiting dangerous activities and enforcing appropriate swimwear for both children and adults. Having a clear policy in place can help reduce your liability if someone gets hurt due to their own poor decisions.
Social Distancing Measures
Social distancing measures should also be put in place to protect visitors from potential exposure to the virus. This includes posting signs about social distancing, making sure that guests are spread out, and limiting the number of people allowed in the pool or beach area at one time.
Regularly Disinfecting Surfaces
It is important to regularly disinfect any surfaces that may have been touched by pool or beach guests. This includes lounge chairs, tables, and other frequently used items. By taking these extra steps to sanitize the area, you can help reduce the risk of spreading germs and illness on your property.
Invest in Water Safety Gears
Investing in the proper water safety gear, such as life jackets and pool mats, is also helpful. These items can help protect children and adults from drowning or other water-related accidents.
More specifically, consider providing colorful kids floaties to guests to help their children stay safe and to make their swimming experience more enjoyable. On top of that, the bright color of the floaties would make it easier to spot the kids in the water.
Make sure to consider purchasing additional safety equipment, such as rescue tubes or pool rope rings, that lifeguards can use to help pull someone out of a dangerous situation. If possible, having lifeguards on duty during the peak hours of operation is also beneficial.
Insurance Coverage
Business owners should also consider purchasing insurance coverage for their pool or beach resort. Insurance policies can cover virtually any type of potential liability that could arise—from medical bills resulting from an accident to damages caused by natural disasters or vandalism.
Having insurance in place will provide financial protection in the event of a disaster and peace of mind knowing that you are prepared for any situation. For instance, if someone were to get injured in a pool or beach accident, the insurance policy would help cover medical bills and other related costs.
Furthermore, having proper insurance coverage will ensure that your business is successfully able to weather any unexpected event or liability.
Staff Training
It is important that all staff members understand the protocols on the property and how to respond if an emergency arises. Regular training sessions should be conducted with employees to ensure they understand their roles and responsibilities as well as how to handle any situations that may arise.
Additionally, it is advisable to have a designated staff member responsible for overseeing operations at all times who can take charge if needed. This can be a lifeguard or manager responsible for maintaining guests’ safety on the property.
Moreover, a comprehensive staff training program can help reduce the risk of negligence and other liabilities.
Reducing risk and liability at pools and beaches can be a daunting task for business owners, but it doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. By implementing simple best practices such as establishing health and safety protocols, obtaining adequate insurance coverage, and providing regular staff training sessions, you can rest assured knowing that your business is secure from any unforeseen risks or liabilities that may arise. Taking these proactive steps now will help you keep your guests safe while protecting yourself from possible legal issues down the line.
