This is a long email chain. Start at the bottom and work your way up. A short time after the last email from the director and after the heaters were replaced again, I once again arrived to find the whirlpool broken. I quit that day.
Good morning xxxx,
I understand your frustration with the pool and hot tub maintenance issues. We as a staff are frustrated as well. The maintenance team has discovered the cause of the spa problem. It had to do with water flow and piping causing the pool heater to fail. The issue has been resolved and the team is waiting for a new heater to arrive to be installed.
The pool had to be shut down because the targets on the end walls that were installed by the original contractor peeled off. As you know, the pool is not only used by our members for lap swimming and exercise, but also by the YMCA and North Royalton swim teams. The targets on the walls provide a safety mechanism for lap swimmers to view before they hit the walls. Without the targets on the walls, the swim teams cannot use the pool for meets as well. A company was brought in to correct the problem. The target areas were sand blasted and the targets were then painted on the wall. This procedure has been tested numerous times around the country and has had very positive results. The contractor that was brought in assured us we would not have any more issues.
I firmly believe that the issues have been resolved. If you have any other concerns, please don’t hesitate to let me know. I look forward to seeing you back at the North Royalton YMCA.
Thanks xxxx Have a great morning!
xxxxxxxx
Executive Director &
Director of Safety Management
YMCA of Greater Cleveland
North Royalton Family YMCA
11409 State Road
North Royalton, OH 44133
P (440) 230 9339
F (440) 877 9257
Clevelandymca.org
From: xxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Friday, August 22, 2014 6:23 AM
To: xxxx
Cc:xxxxx
Subject: Fw: Pool Equipment Emergency Stop Buttons
Hi xxx-
This is regarding the whirlpool heating issue(referenced in the 3rd paragraph of the forwarded email). In addition to the offer below, I have offered my assistance in person to you. I will try to explain why I think this issue is a big problem(at least for me). Although I will refer to the whirlpool, I know there have been similar problems with the pool heater(not sure if they are related).
Over the last 2 years or so, as a COSE member, I was eligible to come to the Y twice a week. I probably averaged about once a week. I do not know how many times I went to the Y only to find that the whirlpool and/or pool were closed because of heater problems. It was several times, but I didn't keep track. I would also guess that between scheduled and unscheduled shutdowns, the pools have been closed for at least 4 weeks out of the last year.
Since the COSE program changed, I decided to join on Wednesday(I didn't join earlier in the month because the pools were closed for the 1st two weeks of August). Imagine my disappointment when I walked up to the whirlpool to find it empty, and to be told that the heater is broken.
Now, to let you know why I think this important: I have to make a pretty big effort to get to the Y to swim. I have a business that takes a lot of my time, and a young family. As I have gotten older, it is more of a struggle to keep in shape. I like to bike on the roads(with a trainer for winter), I run the Hinckely Lake trails( treadmill for winter), and I have a Weider gym and freeweights in my basement. I don't have a pool or whirlpool, though, so that is the only reason for me to go to the Y. I don't just decide to go. I have to be sure to pack my bag the night before and rearrange my work schedule so I could swim during a scheduled lap session. My drive time from work is 15 minutes, so there is 30 minutes alone in driving. My father died at 66, my sister died at 45, and my brother died at 48, all because they didn't take care of themselves. I am trying not to do the same.
All of my customers rely on their equipment to be up an running to make money. You need to think of the pools as a source of revenue, though I understand there probably isn't a direct financial loss when they are broken. As I have stated before, there is a root problem with the whirlpool heater, and it is not the heater elements. Constantly replacing the heater elements is not the answer. Please let me know what the plans are to fix the root problem. I need to be assured that I can expect to use the pools. If there is no plan, other than to replace the heater elements, then I will cancel my membership and ask for a refund. Lap pools around here are hard to find, but I need to find someplace that is reliable.
Regards,
xxx
----- Forwarded Message -----
From: xxx
To: xxx
Cc: Jxxx
Sent: Monday, November 11, 2013 7:37 PM
Subject: Re: Pool Equipment Emergency Stop Buttons
Hi xxxx-
Thanks for the quick response. I guess what bothers me so much about this is the confusing signage. I understand that there was a "belt and suspenders" approach to prevent entrapment, and with the current drain designs it is unlikely that someone will get stuck. I just don't understand how something can be labeled "Emergency Stop" and "not for emergency use" at the same time. A simple wording change that somehow reflects the actual purpose(pump shutdown) would make more sense. It is for emergency use, and as far as I understand it, an emergency situation can only be helped by shutting off the pumps.
The other issue is that apparently the preferred method of contacting you doesn't work. If you never received my original note, even with an associate director standing there and after having a lengthy discussion at the front desk about my concerns, then that process may not work. On Saturday, when I asked at the front desk about an alternate means of contacting you(I did ask about an email address), the lady I spoke to was adamant that the proper procedure was to fill out the form. I explained that I had already done that 6 weeks ago, and what my concern was about. She still insisted on the form. I had to threaten to call a State inspector before she asked someone else about it. The gentleman she asked then gave me your card with your contact info on it.
I had filled out another form some time before that regarding the whirlpool. I don't think it was a form to you, but maybe the facilities person. I don't really remember. I had offered my services to help fix the whirlpool, which seemed to have a perpetual heater problem(they burned out, and were replaced, several times since new). I offered to help fix the root problem and suggested that just constantly replacing the heaters was not the answer. No one ever contacted me. I really look forward to sitting in the whirlpool, and am very disappointed when it isn't working.
Regards,
xxx
From: xxxx
To: xxx
Cc: xxxx
Sent: Monday, November 11, 2013 8:54 AM
Subject: RE: Pool Equipment Emergency Stop Buttons
Good morning xxxx,
I apologize for not getting back to you regarding your comment card. Unfortunately, I had not received it. After reading your email and speaking with our Aquatic Director, I wanted to address some of your concerns. Our insurance provider did direct us to place temporary signage over the emergency stop buttons, to prevent the patrons from shutting off the pumps and to eliminate the confusion of our 911 button on the shower wall near the office. Each body of water is in compliance with the Virginia Graham Baker Law regarding pool drains and sizing to prevent entrapment or suction accidents. The buttons do control the pumps but are only utilized during an emergency that requires us to stop the flow of water – such as a spinal injury. We are in the process of working with our Insurance group and the Risk team at the Y to provide better wording over the emergency stop buttons. Sorry for any confusion. Please let me know if there are any other questions I can answer.
Have a great day,
xxxx
Executive Director
YMCA of Greater Cleveland
North Royalton Family YMCA
11409 State Road
North Royalton, OH 44133
P (440) 230 9339
F (440) 877 9257
Clevelandymca.org
From: xxxx
Sent: Saturday, November 09, 2013 10:46 PM
To: xxx
Cc: xxxx
Subject: Pool Equipment Emergency Stop Buttons
Dear Mr. xxxxx-
I regularly use the pool at the North Royalton YMCA and noticed when signs were placed over the Emergency Stop buttons. The signs stated that the buttons were "not for emergency use". I asked a few lifeguards, and they didn't know why the signs were on them. They didn't even seem to know what the buttons were used for(other than they push them when they clean the pool). I talked to a lifeguard/supervisor, and she said that your insurance company required them. Apparently, your insurance company representative was concerned that people might confuse this button with an Emergency Call button. I suppose that can happen, even though it was clearly labeled "Emergency Stop". She told me if I wanted anymore information that I would have to contact you. On my way out of the building, I asked about contacting you. An associate director was leaving, and she said you were out of town at a seminar on risk assessment, I believe. I was directed to fill out a form, which I did. On that form, I asked you to contact me. You never did. That was back in late September, if I recall.
I thought maybe you would just take care of this, but that wasn't the case. I finally contacted the North Royalton Building Department on October 29th, and as I understand it, they made an inspection and directed the Y to change the wording on the sign. They told me they would not take any action unless they decided it was a life-safety issue. It appears they think it is a life-safety issue. As of today, the wording has not yet been changed.
I am having a hard time understanding why this is so difficult. The Emergency Stop buttons were installed because they are required as part of the National Electric Code. As with OSHA rules, NEC rules often come about because people die. People, mostly kids, were getting trapped on the bottoms of pools because of the suction of the pumps, and sometimes getting their intestines sucked out. There was no easy way to shut off the pumps to free them. The Emergency Stop button requirement is one of the laws that came about to try to prevent this type of accident. There are other newer rules that apply, mostly to do with the pump system itself. Having an Emergency Stop button relabeled as "not for emergency use" really goes against all sensibilities. If your insurance company truly did require you to have this wording, then they are in error, and they need to be made aware of that. I have a hard time believing that they directed you to use that wording.
My other concern is that the lifeguards don't know what the button is there for. Is that part of their training?
Regards,
xxxx
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