HSG179 — Pool Operator Risk Assessment Support

HSG179 in context

HSG179 is published by the HSE as approved guidance for UK pool operators. It is not law in the strict sense, but courts and tribunals take HSG179 as the principal benchmark for what reasonable practice looks like in pool risk management. A pool operator whose practice substantially aligns with HSG179 has strong defence against claims; an operator whose practice diverges from HSG179 without good reason carries elevated exposure.

Slip-related elements of HSG179

HSG179 addresses pool surround slip resistance through its broader risk assessment framework. The relevant requirements include:

• Identification of slip and trip hazards on poolside
• Assessment of risk severity and likelihood
• Implementation of control measures (surface specification, signage, supervision, cleaning regime)
• Periodic review of those control measures
• Record-keeping suitable for inspection by enforcement bodies

UKAS pendulum and Rz data feeds directly into the assessment of risk severity and the verification of control measures. It is the documentary backbone of a defensible HSG179-aligned slip-risk assessment.

How we structure HSG179-aligned testing

• Coverage of all surround zones identified in the operator's risk assessment
• Differentiated testing of higher-risk zones (steps, ramps, ladder approaches, hydrotherapy gradients)
• Slider 55 testing for barefoot surround zones, with Slider 96 for shod transitions where present
• Surface roughness Rz to capture longer-term surface ageing trends
• Clear identification of zones at, near, or below acceptable thresholds
• Recommendations linked back to HSG179 control-measure framework
• UKAS-accredited reports retained in the operator's safety file

PWTAG alignment

The Pool Water Treatment Advisory Group (PWTAG) provides additional UK pool industry guidance, particularly on water treatment and pool plant operation. While PWTAG focuses on chemistry and microbiology, its guidance interacts with slip risk because plant chemistry affects surround surfaces over time. Where operators reference PWTAG protocols in their pool plant SOPs, our testing programme can be structured to align with those review cycles.

Local authority and HSE inspection

Where pools are inspected by local authority Environmental Health Officers or HSE inspectors, periodic UKAS-accredited testing in the operator's safety file is among the most positively-received documentary evidence. It demonstrates active risk management rather than reactive response, which is the disposition HSG179 expects.