Safeguards at the City's Recreational Facilities
Press Release
Safeguards at the City’s Recreational Facilities
Contact: Tim Anderson, recreation director, 970-544-4104
ASPEN, COLO. (February 16, 2011) – Patrons of the City’s recreation facilities can be comforted to know that the recreation department uses a multi-faceted approach to safeguard the public and employees from exposure to potentially harmful fumes and gases. Safety measures include: prevention, isolation, ventilation, personal protective gear, and both visual and audible, automatic early detection and alarm systems.
The first choice in safeguarding people is prevention. At the Aspen Recreation Center, sodium hypochlorite (liquid bleach) was replaced with solid calcium hypochlorite tablets to eliminate the possibility of a liquid bleach spill in the pool area and the gas powered Zamboni was replaced with an electric version to eliminate exhaust fumes in the ice rink.
When it is necessary to use chemicals or equipment that potentially could emit fumes, care is taken to isolate the source(s). Staff is trained to use proper protective gear and safety equipment. Freon and ammonia used in the ice facilities have a monitoring system that sounds an alarm if there is a leak. Acids used to balance the pH of pool water are kept in purpose designed room with secondary containment vessels to insure containment if the container should leak. A two level ventilation system is used in isolated equipment rooms: one that provides the removal of any incidental fumes and a second level of ventilation is activated if system detects elevated levels. All systems and storage containers are regularly maintained.
If you have questions or concerns about the precautions taken to safeguard the public and staff at the City’s recreation facilities, contact the recreation director, Tim Anderson at 970-544-4104.
###
|