Swimming Pool Builders
Building a pool combines deep digging, heavy equipment, concrete spraying, steel work, plumbing, electrical work and chemicals on a small residential lot. Cave-ins, equipment accidents, silica dust, falls into the excavation and electrical contact are the major ways pool builders are hurt.
- Pool Builders
- Excavation Crews
- Shotcrete & Plaster Crews
- Pool Electricians & Plumbers
Phases and hazards
- Layout and excavation: pool holes are often 6 to 10 feet or more deep with steep, sandy or wet walls. Cave-ins kill workers. Utilities and overhead lines can be in the way. See Trenching Basics, Protective Systems and Call 811.
- Equipment: excavators, skid steers and trucks near the edge. See Excavators and Backing & Spotters.
- Rebar and steel: exposed rebar is an impalement hazard. See Rebar & Ironworkers.
- Shotcrete and gunite: high-pressure hoses can whip, plus cement burns and silica dust. See Concrete Work and Silica.
- Plumbing and electrical: trenches, pumps, equipment pads, and bonding and grounding of the pool and equipment. Water and electricity combine. See Wet Locations and GFCI Protection.
- Plaster, tile and chemicals: caustic plaster, acid washes and pool chemicals. See Chemical Storage and Chlorine.
- Falls into the pool shell, slips, and heat in sunny backyards. See Heat Illness.
Safe practices
- Call 811 and watch for overhead lines. Mark utilities and plan access for equipment.
- Treat pool excavations as trenches/excavations: slope, bench or shore walls as the competent person determines, provide safe ladders or ramps every 25 feet of lateral travel, and keep spoil, tools and equipment back from the edge. A competent person inspects daily and after rain.
- Use barricades or guardrails around the open hole, especially when the crew is away. Protect the public and children.
- Cap or guard rebar ends and keep workers off exposed steel.
- During shotcrete, secure hoses and fittings with whip checks, keep unnecessary people out of the spray zone, and wear face shields and respirators as needed. Use wet methods for dust.
- Use GFCI protection for all temporary power near water and keep cords out of puddles. Have a qualified electrician do bonding and grounding to code.
- Store and handle chemicals properly. Never mix pool chemicals. Wear gloves and goggles and follow SDSs.
- Keep walkways clear and have drinking water and shade for heat.
Pool builder checklist
- 811 was called and overhead lines and utilities are mapped
- Excavation walls are protected and inspected by a competent person
- The hole is barricaded when unattended; ladders are within reach
- Rebar is capped and shotcrete hoses are secured
- Electrical work near water uses GFCI protection and qualified electricians
Standards & references
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