Winnipeg, MB - The Winnipeg Public Service has initiated and, in most cases, taken action on priority recommendations made in a report prepared for City Council by the City Auditor, on the Aquatic Services program.
“The safety of customers in our pools is our highest priority,” said Deepak Joshi, Chief Operating Officer, City of Winnipeg, in response to the Audit report. “This report by the City Auditor provides an independent assessment of the City of Winnipeg Aquatic Services program and we welcome this review as part of our commitment to ongoing improvement.”
The report relates to an assessment of safe operating procedures and practices in indoor aquatic facilities. This assessment was conducted by the Lifesaving Society Ontario from January 30 to February 3, 2012. The Society’s assessment includes two main types of recommendations, of which “priority” recommendations are the most important and represent, in the opinion of the Society, major safety risks to the public and call for immediate action.
The City agreed with and immediately took action to address nine of the 11 priority recommendations, and the remaining two (regarding lighting requirements, and door locking mechanisms) are under further review to ensure compliance with the Province of Manitoba’s Regulation.
All of the 51 other recommendations are either not requirements under, or exceed the requirements of the Manitoba Regulation. The City has already completed action on 25 of these recommendations, and is reviewing or implementing the remainder.
The Audit report on Aquatic Services, which will be considered by the Executive Policy Committee on Wednesday, March 13, 2013, can be found here.