EXCLUSIVE: OSHA, ADA Violations Found at Providence Pools

EXCLUSIVE: OSHA, ADA Violations Found at Providence Pools

Hundreds of serious safety violations at Providence's public pools including lack of compliance with grounding and bonding, no defibrillators, and lack of ADA compliance were outlined in two new reports conducted in August and September by national pools expert Judith Leblein, as obtained by GoLocalProv. 

SLIDES: See Most Serious Pool Violations in Latest Report BELOW

Leblein's sixteen page reported dated August 12 outlines "deplorable" and "unacceptable" conditions at Providence's public pool facilities, which had been closed early in mid-August purportedly for rainwater conditions according to the city, as GoLocal first reported -- but that the Department of Health acknowledged was most likely related to the wrong pool paint. 

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"I cannot as an aquatics professional encourage further development of aquatic programming without expressing my serious concerns about the current conditions of the city's public pools," wrote Leblein on August 12, who then offered a series of recommendations in report dated September 8, in order for the pools to reopen next year. "The Labor unions should be concerned about the physical limitations of the filter buildings and these pools."

"It's shocking and alarming that the recommendations put forth [by the Swim Commission last year] have not been met," said Providence City Councilman Michael Correia.  "We need to come up with a game plan immediately to address the city's pools now."

In July, the Elorza administration said that a number of issues raised in the Providence Swim Commission's 2014 report had been addressed by the city, but Leblein slammed the city's efforts in her August assessment. 

"I must say that I was deeply disappointed that many of the high priority recommendations were not addressed from my visit in 2014," wrote Leblein. "There were attempts at compliance that were minimal."

Issues Raised

In her 16 page report, Leblein outlined hundreds of problems facing the city's pools.

"There is no documentation of any Bonding or Grounding Certification for any of the pools or water play areas," wrote Leblein.  "These should be on file at the location an available for inspection. There is no evidence of annual electrical inspection." In addition, Leblein noted that the filter rooms are "antiquated and did not meet minimum standards for safety."

Moreover, Leblein found that enamel paint used on the pool gutters "clogged the return drains in the gutter system, reducing the water circulation and ultimately the water quality," which spoke to the speculated pool paint issue at the core of the pools' closings in August. 

"Does anyone but the Swim Commission and recreation department staff care?" quipped LeBlein in her report. 

Leblein pointed out that "none of the facilities comply with the American with Disabilities Act for access to public pools" -- and wrote that the city was potentially open to a civil suit.  

"None of the facilities visited had a working AED available," continued Leblein, noting only Davey Lopes had a defibrillator in the office, but that those pads were outdated. 

Leblien further noted that all of the pools had ladders that were loose or inadequate, and that pools lacked specific Emergency Action Plans on file, and spine boards at different locations were either "inadequate, antiquated material, or not equipped with the proper straps."

"I found a caring but frustrated staff that feels powerless in this fight to improve aquatics," wrote Leblein.  

Furthermore, Leblein found conditions at several pool restrooms as "unacceptable."

"I would not use this restroom," wrote Leblein of the Almagno Pool at the Neutaconkanut Recreation Center. "When restrooms are unacceptable, they tend not to be used and then children will use the pools for urination. Unused restrooms cut down on guests taking showers and increase body oils in the water."

Leblein note that the rec director at Neutaconkanut was "doing his best at managing" the pool, but was frustrated at the conditions. 

"When asking if he could close the pool, he was told no by the administration," wrote Leblein in her August 12 report -- before the city shut the pools down the following week. 

Addressing Costs Would be in "Millions"

"The parts about the conditions of the bathrooms, I was disgusted," said Councilman Kevin Jackson of the report on Thursday. "Reading the report, I thought there were more issues than we have even in our schools.  It's intense, and it's clearly gotten away from us."

Jackson said he thought that fundraising - or public-private partnerships -- would be necessary to address the "millions" of dollars in funding he thought it would take to address the problems.

"With the overwhelming financial needs, we would have to reach to private philanthropy groups.  There's reference in that report to groups in New York.  I know it's a new administration, but it's got to be high on our priority list," said Jackson. "As far as the council is concerned, keeping these pools open is our goal.  There are too many kids in our city who don't have swimming opportunities in the summer apart from these pools."