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c. Restroom doors, faucets, sinks, soap and paper towel dispensers, toilet flush levers
and baby changing stations
d. Drink dispensing equipment and water fountains
e. Light switches
f. Telephones and emergency shut-off buttons on spas, dials for spa jets
In addition to posting notices that the social distance policy is to be observed at the pool, pool owners
may want to limit the number of people allowed inside the pool area at any one time. Residents may
be assigned specific days to use the pool and must stand or sit in spots marked out on the
surrounding pool deck, maintaining safe distances. Limiting the length of time residents can stay at
the pool increases the total number of people that can use the pool each day. The best way to
execute this is to designate blocks of pool time available for people to visit the pool each day.
An additional consideration is the removal of some deck furniture to further encourage social
distancing. Because pool furniture cannot be reliably disinfected between each user, consider having
residents bring their own chairs each time they come to the pool. If you choose this option, the pool
furniture can be stacked and locked up with a coated cable and padlock. There has been discussion
among owners in certain municipalities about needing to hire pool attendants to help monitor social
distancing, so it is advised to check on all legal requirements ahead of any openings.
Enforcing occupancy standards and social distancing regulations may be the most difficult aspect of
operating a pool this year. There are several options to consider for handling this situation, depending
on budget, available technology and staff time.
a. Use technology tools to offer residents access to an online scheduling platform to
reserve time at the pool
b. Post occupancy limitations and allow residents to self-enforce this rule
c. Pool staff can limit the number of people on a first-come, first-served basis
d. Set hours or days for use by specific groups based on their address or last name, for
example
5. Routine Maintenance – Some communities will begin completing routine service requests again, if
they haven’t already started. Strengthened communication between office and maintenance teams is
critical. The employee taking service requests should ask detailed questions about the issue in the
resident’s apartment. This will assist the maintenance team to bring only the tools and parts they
need to complete a task, thus limiting the equipment they need to disinfect after each job. Prior to a
member of the maintenance team entering an apartment, it is advised to ask the resident three
questions as outlined in the COVID-19 protocol, to include:
1. Has anyone in the apartment home traveled internationally?
2. Does anyone in the apartment home have a fever?
3. Is anyone in the apartment home taking care of someone has been sick?
If the answer to any of the above questions is “Yes,” the team member can politely refuse to enter the
apartment home. The organization can decide if the work should be completed while the resident is
not in the home or if it should be rescheduled for a later date after the isolation period has passed.
Work orders should be prioritized based on the level of urgency with the understanding that there is a
limit to the number of service requests the maintenance staff can safely handle daily. Management
should communicate with residents when to realistically expect a member of the maintenance team to
address their request. The maintenance team should follow COVID-19 protocol with regard to CDC
guidelines while utilizing proper PPE.
6. Outdoor Spaces – Outdoor areas generally require normal routine cleaning and do not require
disinfection. The targeted use of disinfectants can be done effectively, efficiently and safely on
outdoor hard surfaces and objects frequently touched by multiple people. The CDC recommends not
JUNE 2020 SPECIAL EDITION | www.saaaonline.org