Florida is known as the Sunshine State. With the abundance of sunshine and great weather, Floridians and tourists alike flock to our pools to enjoy time in the sun. When you jump in one of the 37,000 plus public pool and spa facilities our great state has to offer, you want to know that you and your loved ones are safe. For almost a century, the Florida Department of Health (DOH) has ensured that public pools are safe environments. Currently DOH provides biennial inspections checking over 40 items in and around public pools to safeguard the 100 million tourists who visit our state annually and the 19.5 million citizens who call Florida home.
Interpretation by the Joint Administrative Procedures Committee (JAPC) is removing the ability of the DOH to inspect items such as:
- Fences and gates working properly
- Ladders in place and working order
- Depth markers are visible
- GFCI protection is in place
- Drain grates are properly covered
The Florida swimming pool industry tried to reinstate the authority to DOH during the 2015 Legislative Session but some legislators believe these inspections aren't necessary.
Send a message to Gov. Scott, Senate President Andy Gardiner and House Speaker Steve Crisafulli urging them to 1. weigh in on the JAPC interpretation with instructions to keep the inspections or 2. take up public pool safety in the upcoming Special Session.
Dear Governor Scott, Senate President Gardiner, and Speaker of the House Crisafulli,
As an advocate of pool safety and a user of public pools in Florida, I urge you to take action in order to ensure that the 37,000 plus public pools and spas in Florida continue to have FULL inspections completed by the Department of Health (DOH).
If there is no action to simply clarify that the DOH can continue to inspect ALL aspects of the pool during their biennial inspections there will be NO oversight by DOH or any other government entity to ensure that drain grate covers are kept in place, ladders are not broken, GFCI protection on electrical components are not removed and a multitude of other aspects that could cause injury or death if not addressed. This will put the lives of the 100 million tourists and 19.5 million residents who utilize these facilities in danger.
Please keep pools safe in Florida by reviewing the statutory changes made in 2012 and issuing an opinion that they do still provide DOH with the authority to inspect ALL aspects of the pool or spa after it has opened to the public. If this opinion cannot be made we implore you to address this during the upcoming special session.
Thank you.
