Bath Shortage Report: Multiple Baths Face Understaffing Issues
Swimming Pool Staff Shortages Impact Operations in Germany
Berlin - A survey by the Association of Municipal Enterprises has revealed that many swimming pools in Germany are grappling with staff shortages. Thirty-eight percent of the surveyed indoor and outdoor pools admitted to not filling all their positions by the start of the current month. Over a quarter of the pools reported having more than ten percent of their positions remaining vacant.
This staffing crunch could potentially impact the operating hours of outdoor pools, which are either commencing or already active for the season. Twelve percent of the operators participating in the survey stated that they had to temporarily close their pools over weekends during the past season due to staff shortages or overcrowding.
Implications for Pool Opening Hours
Ingbert Liebing, the managing director of the association, highlighted the increasing demand for swimming pools and lifeguards amidst demographic shifts in Germany. He suggested that a lifeguard team's decision could determine the opening hours of a pool moving forward, similar to how a chef's team determines a restaurant's opening hours.
To ease the strain on lifeguards, some pools are adopting AI-assisted video surveillance for water supervision in indoor pools. However, deploying AI in outdoor pools is more costly and complex because a higher number of cameras are required.
Potential Use of Artificial Intelligence
According to the survey, 34 percent of the pool operators plan to implement AI for water supervision within the next three years. Despite being rare, AI technology can identify a drowning person at the bottom of the pool and raise an alarm. The advantage of AI is its preventive approach, as it can identify potential danger patterns before an emergency arises, allowing for timely pool supervision intervention.
Legal Challenges and Solutions
The use of AI in lifeguarding raises several legal concerns, particularly involving liability, data protection, and regulatory compliance under EU frameworks. To address these concerns, manufacturers and operators of AI lifeguard systems must ensure compliance with evolving AI regulations and product liability laws, implement strict data protection measures, and ensure human oversight.
Clear liability frameworks, focused on balancing protection for injured persons and reasonable responsibility for AI providers, will be essential in ensuring the safe and effective application of AI in lifeguard assistance.
The data provided suggests that addressing legal concerns, compliance, and human oversight will be crucial in redressing the challenges that arise by integrating AI into lifeguard procedures.
As the demand for swimming pools and lifeguards increases in Germany due to demographic changes, pool operators might consider adjusting their lifestyles to incorporate more technology, such as AI-assisted video surveillance for water supervision during their free time. But as the use of AI in lifeguarding raises legal concerns, manufacturers and operators need to ensure compliance with EU regulations, implement data protection measures, and maintain human oversight to address these issues, allowing for a seamless integration of technology into the lifeguarding lifestyle.
