Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Secrecy in Cohousing Records

[O3C11N6G (normangauss]

I have asked that the spa/pool records be kept in an unlocked area but have 
been told that those records are exclusively for the public health service. 
In addition, there is a fear that someone may abscond with them.  I have 
also detected a sensitivity on the part of the operator to criticism.



After some observance of how public health service inspections are done, I 
came to the conclusion that our spa and pool may be unsafe to use at any one 
time. Our past records show that, but unless unsafe conditions are 
recognized promplty and correction is made at the time, the facility will 
remain unsafe.  I became aware that the PHS does not inspect the records to 
determine if the facility is adhering to standards.  This checking is 
legally authorized to ensure that the facility has a history of safe 
operation.  They only look for conditions existing at the time of their 
inspection.  It is the responsibility of the facility operators to ensure 
that it is safe to use at all times that it is open.



Unfortunately, conditions in spas can change rapidly depending on their 
usage and exposure to solar rays.  The spa may be safe in the morning but 
unsafe in the afternoon and evening.  Unless readings are taken several 
times a day, all these unsafe periods will go undetected.  I have pointed 
this out to the operator and was told that I was being overly fearful.  All 
the literature that I read on the subject, plus conversations with pool 
maintenance contractors, points out that monitoring a spa throughout the day 
is necessary to maintain safe conditions.  I know that public spas are 
operated this way, so why not ours?



I do not need to take my own readings if I can be assured that a reliable 
reading was taken and is recorded correctly.  In the past, when these 
records were unlocked, I saw all kinds of skipped days and scrambled 
recordings.  Last May, half the days had no recording.



Yet the PHS service gave us an A+ inspection.  I don't understand this.



Norm Gauss