Swim schools and CCTV: why good records matter for risk management
Running a swim school or aquatic centre is about more than teaching water safety and building confidence in the pool. It also means creating a safe space for families, staff, and the wider community.
One area that is sometimes overlooked but can make all the difference when something goes wrong, is how you manage records, particularly CCTV footage and incident reporting.
While most classes run smoothly, accidents do happen.
A child may slip near the pool, a parent may raise concerns, or a contractor may have a near miss while setting up equipment. In these moments, clear and accurate records can protect your business from liability and support your insurance cover.
In this article, we will explore how CCTV and good documentation can form part of your risk management strategy, why it matters for swim schools of all sizes, and how you can use these tools to support your staff, students, and community.
What you should know about Swim schools, CCTV & risk management
Every swim school carries certain risks. Pools are inherently high-risk environments where slips, trips, falls, or water-related injuries can occur. That’s why Australian insurers, regulators, and industry bodies expect operators to have strong safety measures in place.
Common obligations for swim school operators include, but are not limited to:
- Keeping the pool environment safe and well-maintained.
- Ensuring children are always supervised by accredited teachers.
- Having up-to-date first aid and CPR certifications for staff.
Making sure contractors and subcontractors carry their own public liability and professional indemnity insurance.
Maintaining documented risk management procedures, from handling blood spills to managing emergencies.
Adding CCTV footage to this mix provides an extra layer of evidence when incidents occur. Footage can help show what really happened, back up staff accounts, and demonstrate that you took all reasonable precautions.
How CCTV can prevent a liability claim (case example)
Imagine this scenario.
A young swimmer attends a lesson at your centre. After class, the child slips on the wet floor near the change rooms and hurts their wrist. The parents believe the area wasn’t properly maintained and raise a liability claim against the swim school.
Here’s how the situation unfolds with CCTV in place:
The footage clearly shows the floor was being mopped regularly and appropriate signage was visible. The child was running at the time of the slip, despite staff reminders to walk in wet areas. Staff responded immediately with first aid, and the incident report matches what was captured on camera.
In this situation, the swim school can provide the insurer with documented evidence and CCTV footage. This helps demonstrate that the injury was not due to negligence by the school, potentially avoiding a costly claim.
Without CCTV, the outcome could be very different. Relying only on memory or conflicting witness accounts can make it harder to defend a claim, even if your staff did everything right.
What could an incident cost your swim school?
The cost of a liability claim depends on the severity of the injury, the circumstances, and the legal process.
Expenses may include:
- Medical costs and compensation.
- Legal fees and defence costs.
- Increased premiums or excess following a claim.
- Lost time, reputational damage, and stress for your team.
For small swim schools, even a minor claim can put financial pressure on the business. The reputational damage from negative publicity or social media discussion can also take years to repair.
Having CCTV and proper documentation reduces uncertainty. It gives you the tools to show insurers and regulators that you met your duty of care, helping to protect both your finances and your reputation.
Risk management preparedness isn’t just for big centres
It’s not only large aquatic centres that need to worry about risk management. Many swim schools are run by families, sole traders, or small community businesses. These operators often have limited resources and may rely heavily on a few key staff members
Smaller centres can be especially vulnerable because:
- They may not have a dedicated compliance or risk manager.
- Claims can have a greater impact on cash flow.
- Limited staf f ing can make it harder to manage incidents and follow-up reporting.
The good news is that CCTV and structured risk management processes are not out of reach. Affordable camera systems are widely available, and simple checklists can help ensure incident reports are consistent and accurate.
Preparedness is about creating a culture where everyone from instructors to reception staff knows what to do, and where to find the records if an issue arises.
Practical risk management steps for swim schools
Strong risk management doesn’t have to be complex. Here are some practical steps, among others, to help your swim school make the most of CCTV and record-keeping:
- Install CCTV in key areas. Entrances, pool surrounds, and change rooms (public spaces only, with clear signage for privacy) are good starting points.
- Keep footage secure. Store recordings securely and know how long you are required or choose to retain them.
- Document every incident. Even minor slips or near misses should be recorded in writing. Consistency matters.
- Train your staff. Make sure teachers and lifeguards know the process for reporting and retrieving footage.
- Review procedures regularly. Policies on first aid, emergency response, and discrimination should be kept up to date.
- Check your insurance wording. Understand what your public liability and professional indemnity policies require, and make sure your risk management aligns.
Conclusion
CCTV footage and strong documentation aren’t just “nice to have” tools for swim schools, they are key parts of a risk management strategy. They protect your staff, your students, and your business by providing clarity in moments when emotions can run high.
Investing in these measures helps you create a safer environment and strengthens your ability to work with insurers if a claim arises. Whether you’re running a large aquatic centre or a small community swim school, the principle is the same: good records today can prevent big problems tomorrow.
Want to discuss how Marsh can help your swim school with tailored insurance solutions and risk management advice?