Fiberglass vs Wood Backboards

[Jeff Hammond]

Hello all,

 

A State of Florida Board of Health Inspector stated that our wood backboard (http://www.cjaquatics.com) is not an industry standard backboard since it is wood and he asked for it to be removed and replaced with fiberglass.

 

This sounds like a bunch of hogwash to me (that's the Alabama in me coming out).  Any body hear a similar tune from any inspector?  Model Aquatic Health Code standards regarding equipment?

 

Thanks,

 

Jeff Hammond

Nickelodeon Suites Resort

Orlando, FL

[Cory]

I've never heard of any state code that prohibits cj boards, and because it's used extensively in the industry, I don't see how he can argue it doesn't meet industry standards.

 

Give CJ aquatics a call and ask their opinion - If I were a rep from CJ I'd want to give the inspector a call : )

[Chris Griffith]

I can't see why the CJ board is an issue. It's a widely adopted board. The red cross uses one in their current LG training videos. I'd call BS on that inspector. I agree with Cory, call CJ and inquire. You run into one other problem here as well. Your guards are trained on the CJ board. Every board handles differently in the water and the inspector is literally asking you to retrain your entire staff on their BB procedure. My facility uses the plastic CJ boards and we love them. If you HAVE to change then they're the best option. 

 

 

[Faron VanNostrand]

Not defending the inspector ;-), but maybe he is refering to ability to clean/sanitize it after an emergency? I have heard that wood can not be sanitzed after an exposure, I don't beleive that, but it is just a thought.  I use CJ boards for as long as I can remember and love them.  I like that ALL staff can handle them with ease.

[Jim Wheeler]

Bleach cleans wood, it is a standard disinfection practice in the restaurant industry for cutting boards. I would say if the wood board needed to be refinished it might be easier for the health guy to make his case, but a well varnished (we do ours every year or two, replace the straps and head blocks velcro...) board should pose no threat in the BBP arena. You would think that restaurant inspectors that double as pool inspectors in the summer would know this about cleaning a wood surface...

[John McGowan]

Texas state health code says that you just need a backboard.  We have transitioned to CJ's fiberglass board because we train so much with it in the water and the sun exposure that it falls apart.  Our Fire Department also asked if we could use a fiberglass board so the hospital could catscan through it if necessary.