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"The Minister congratulates ILAM Ireland and An Taisce for this worthwhile initiative which will contribute to raising standards in the area of Leisure Facilities."
Statement from Dr James McDaid TD, Minister for Tourism, Sport & Recreation at the time of launch of the award.
The White Flag for Leisure Facilities is a new hygiene / environmental award launched by ILAM Ireland and An Taisce as a pilot for Europe. The Award Scheme was launched by Eoin Ryan TD, Minister of State at the Department of Tourism, Sport & Recreation.
The first awards were presented as part of the Pilot scheme in October 2001. An Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern TD, raised the Flag at the Shannon Oaks Hotel & Country club in Portumna.
The award, aimed at swimming pools, sports halls, gymnasiums and other indoor leisure facilities, is based on the highly successful European Blue Flag for Beaches award which is granted to beaches and marinas that pass a number of environmental and safety criteria.
The award was devised by An Taisce and ILAM Ireland (Institute of Leisure and Amenity Management Ireland ltd). Hygiene criteria and environmental parameters are included in the Award along with lifeguarding
requirements. The criteria fall under a number of categories: Facility Exterior and Grounds; Facility Interior; Pools; Operations; Environmental Management; Education and Information; Water Quality and Treatment.
Each facility must have safe and easy access.
The White Flag has been designed to emphasise environmental activities as well as excellent hygiene standards, so as to focus attention on environmental issues. Strong 'Eco-friendly' principles, such as waste
minimisation, recycling facilities, and energy conservation are imperative for the White Flag.
By following the criteria, and making some necessary changes, a facility can reach a very high standard, offering the best possible service, without resorting to molar structural changes. A facility can also save money on energy and water bills, by conserving these resources where possible.
Expert advice is available within the Environmental Education Unit of An Taisce and LAM Ireland on these matters. Many aspects of the award, in particular the environmental activities, allow greater community involvement, opening up the facility to a new audience. Finally the successful facility is granted a recognised award in excellence, which can be visually displayed to advertise its achievement.
- Save money by introducing energy saving measures and effective Systems and procedures
- National and international recognition
- Demonstrate to existing and potential new members / users your high standards
- Raise your facility's public profile
- Use the assessment process as a staff training tool
Comprises of representatives from the following bodies:
- An Taisce
- Town Clerks Association
- ILAM Ireland
- Irish Hotels Federation
- Consumers Association of Ireland
- Irish Water Safety
- Environmental Health Offkers Association
- RLSS Ireland
- Pool Water Treatment Advisory Group
- County & City Managers Assoc
- There must be safe and easy access to the facility with adequate signposting
- Must be well presented and well maintained
There must be an effective cleaning programme in place, for all aspects of the facility and for which staff are fully trained, with a satisfactory audit and review process. There must be a formal Emergency Action Plan (to be submitted as part of the application for the award) in relation to spillages and gross pollution incidents in dry, wet and pool areas and all potential emergency situations, taking into account the recommendations made in "Swimming Pool Water" (PWTAG) (I). Pool Plant room must be kept in a hygienic condition. There must be at least one trained, certified pool plant operator on full time staff. There must be a suitable storage area for cleaning materials and all chemicals must be stored appropriately.
Refuse collected must be disposed of at a licensed facility. There must be suitable storage and collection of hazardous wastes such as disinfectant chemicals. There must be measures in place to minimise energy consumption. There must be an environmentally sound purchasing policy to cover cleaning detergents, stationery, equipment, etc.
There must he at least one full-time staff member nominated as facility representative for this award and contact details for this person must be on display. There must he a clearly visible and well-informed notice board(s) on display at a central location(s) within the facility displaying the following: Award criteria & information; Code of Conduct for facility users; Facility Rules; Facility's Environment / Hygiene Statement (to he submitted as port of application); Facility map (showing: First Aid; Emergency exits; phone; toilets; drinking water); Environment Hygiene Activities. There must be a number of organised environmental and hygiene activities aimed at children and adults to promote education and awareness. There must he a Code of Conduct posted in an appropriate place specific to Spa Pools, Swimming Pools, Saunas, Gyms and other relevant facilities ISRM/ILAM Ireland posters should be used for this purpose.
There must be compliance with ILAM Policy Area 4 - Pool Water Ouality and recommendations set out in "Swimming Pool Water" (PWrAG). There must he well kept pool records to monitor levels of disinfectant, pH, alkalinity, TDS (total dissolved solids) and clarity. Bacteriological tests must he carried out at least once a month as a random check unless there is suspected water quality deterioration in which case frequency of bacteriological tests should be increased. Swimming pool water must be subject to weekly Water Balance tests with appropriate remedial action taken if necessary.
There should he pre-swim showers provided for pre-pool entry with a sign encouraging bathers to shower before entering the pool area . Spa Pools must meet standards as set out in "Swimming Pool Water" (PWTAG) including specification for Design Bather Capacity. Lifeguard cover must be provided in accordance with recommendations in "Managing Health and Safety in Swimming Pools" (Health and Safety Commission, UK). All lifeguards must hold a nationally recognised lifeguard qualification (I).
All reception areas, viewing areas, changing areas & activity areas must be well-presented, clean and litter-free There must be adequate changing rooms and sanitary facilities, including provision for disabled users, and nappy changing facilities Suitable, sufficient, hygienic and soundly constructed sanitary facilities should be available exclusively for bathers, as outlined in "Swimming pool Water" (published by Pool Water Treatment Advisory Group (PWTAG)) (G). There must be a satisfactory hygiene plan to cover cleaning programmes, schedules and monitoring regimes. Saunas, steam rooms, solaria and sun bed facilities must meet the appropriate health and safety standards in accordance with guidlines laid down in "Health & Fitness Operators Guide" (ISRM) All catering facilities must meet the appropriate health and safety standards.
Both Lucan Leisure Centre and Clondalkin Leisure Centre, successfully achieved acreditation under the scheme every year since 2002. The 2008 awards will be anounced in October of this year and, once again, we are working hard to maintain our high standards and qualify - at Lucan Leisure Centre, Clondalkin Leisure Centre & Tallaght Leisure Centre.
We consider this to be a great achievement and we fully intend to keep working to maintain the high standards that have been recognised by this award.
If you would like further information about the Award scheme, then please contact us at the Centre or contact ILAM at the following:
Tel: 045 861 201
Fax: 045 893 195
E-mail: info@ilamireland.ie
Web: www.ilamireland.ie or
Web: www.whiteflag.ie.
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