Bath Shortage Revealed: Staffing Deficits Exposed in Study
Germany's Public Pools Struggle with Staff Shortages
Berlin - A survey by the Association of Municipal Enterprises has revealed that numerous swimming facilities across Germany are battling staff shortages. As of the start of this month, approximately 38 percent of the surveyed indoor and outdoor pools had not filled all their positions, according to the association's findings. The situation is most pronounced in over one-quarter of these facilities, where more than ten percent of the roles remain vacant.
The staffing crisis could impact the operating hours of outdoor pools, which are opening or already operational during these days. The survey indicates that 12 percent of the pool operators had to close temporarily on weekends last season due to staff shortages or overcrowding.
Impact on Opening Hours
The Association's managing director, Ingbert Liebing, stated, "In Germany, residents' demand for bathing and lifeguards is high, while the supply remains scarce." This trend may be exacerbated by demographic changes. "Much like a restaurant chef determines the eatery’s opening hours, the lifeguard team will decide bath opening hours in the future," Liebing predicted.
Some pools are turning to AI-assisted video surveillance for water supervision in indoor pools, as per the association. Outdoor pools' implementation of AI is costlier and more complex, necessitating multiple cameras.
Artificial Intelligence as a Solution?
The survey suggests that 34 percent of the pool operators plan to utilize AI for water supervision over the next three years. Currently, this technology is seldom employed. Camera-based systems can identify a drowning person at the pool's bottom and raise the alarm.
These systems, available for about 20 years, can potentially identify potential risky movement patterns before an emergency occurs, allowing for timely intervention by pool supervisors.
Legal Challenges Regarding AI Implementation
Several bath operators find the legal situation with regards to data protection confusing, according to the survey. Liebing voiced his support for the legal validation of AI use, as "AI can save lives, and its utilization is vital for this purpose." Some respondents also expressed concerns about the expense of acquiring these systems and potential acceptance issues with bathers.
The German Society for Bathing's "Bathing Atlas" lists over 6,000 indoor and outdoor pools nationwide. The Association of Municipal Enterprises represents more than 1,500 municipal utilities and communal enterprises in fields such as energy, water, and wastewater.
- The scarcity of lifeguards and bathing staff in Germany could lead to increased adoption of technology in health-and-wellness and fitness-and-exercise facilities, such as AI-assisted video surveillance in both indoor and outdoor pools for health and safety reasons.
- With the rising demand for staff in health-and-wellness facilities like swimming pools, the Association's managing director, Ingbert Liebing, suggested that those responsible for water supervision, like lifeguards, could determine the operating hours, similar to a restaurant chef determining the opening hours of an eatery, due to the current staff shortages.
