- Decision 61/2025 assigns liability not just to lifesavers and managers, but to corporate board members following a tragic double drowning in Rhodes.
- Under Ministerial Decision 11814/2025, pool “licenses” are replaced by a mandatory notification system via the O.P.S.-A.D.E. digital platform.
- Staffing requirements for lifeguards now hinge strictly on hotel capacity and pool depth (1.5 meters).
- Hotel directors are urged to document all safety requests in writing to protect themselves from personal legal exposure.
The recent 61/2025 ruling by the Rhodes Court of Appeals regarding the drowning of two young girls has sent shockwaves through the industry. By extending financial and criminal liability to the hotel company’s statutory organs—not just the staff on duty—the Greek justice system is signaling that pool safety is no longer a “secondary technical issue.” It is now a core business risk.
The current regulatory framework is primarily shaped by Health Regulation G1/443/1973 on swimming pools, Article 46 of Law 4688/2020, and Joint Ministerial Decision 10399/2022, as amended by Ministerial Decision 6584/2024.
Under Health Regulation G1/443/1973, hotel swimming pools are classified as public-use facilities. As a result, their operations are subject to stricter requirements regarding supervision, public health protection, and safety.
From Licenses to Digital Notifications
The bureaucratic landscape is shifting. The era of the traditional “operating license” has ended, replaced by a digital notification requirement. According to Ministerial Decision 11814/2025, every pool must be registered through the O.P.S.-A.D.E. system before a single guest takes a dip.
For many boutique owners, there is a small reprieve: private pools serving a single room do not require individual notification. However, they must still be declared under the hotel’s general filing, and their safety documentation must be impeccable.
The Mandatory Safety Dossier
Every pool must now have a “living” file kept on-site, ready for inspection at a moment’s notice. This isn’t just a folder in a drawer; it’s a legal shield.
- Proof of Digital Notification: The receipt from the O.P.S.-A.D.E. filing.
- Structural Integrity: Urban planning legality and a mechanical engineer’s certification of the electrical/mechanical systems.
- Safety Declarations: A signed statement from the Operations Manager confirming all safety protocols are met.
- Lifeguard Credentials: Valid diplomas and certifications for all rescue staff.
In an ex post control system, the ability to immediately demonstrate compliance is a decisive factor. Failure to keep the file up to date results in administrative fines. If such deficiencies pose a serious risk to bathers’ safety, the competent authority may require the pool to be sealed and its operation suspended.
The legislation requires the appointment of a “responsible person,” whose details must be kept continuously updated in the pool’s notification and who is entrusted with the actual supervision of the facility, ensuring its lawful operation and compliance with all applicable rules.
Lifeguard Requirements
The law, specifically MD 6584/2024, leaves no room for ambiguity regarding who must be watching the water:
At least one qualified lifeguard must be appointed, holding either:
- a valid certification from a recognized lifeguard training school, or
- a lifeguard license issued by the port authority
For tourist accommodations with more than 50 beds and at least one pool deeper than 1.5 meters:
- The lifeguard must be physically present and on active duty during operating hours;
- must be wearing swim attire;
- must remain within the pool area or actively patrolling on foot;
- must not perform any other duties simultaneously.
For accommodations with fewer than 50 beds or pools shallower than 1.5 meters:
- A lifeguard is still required with the same qualifications.
- They may remain on standby within the premises.
- They must have the ability to intervene immediately when needed.
For children’s pools:
- If they are not adjacent to another supervised pool, an additional dedicated lifeguard is required.
- This lifeguard must be stationed exclusively at the children’s pool.
- They must not carry out any other duties.
The operator must ensure that:
- The assigned lifeguard is clearly identified.
- Their exact location during shifts is known.
- They are not assigned parallel tasks that interfere with supervision.
Lifeguard coverage must reflect the facility’s actual operational conditions, not just formal compliance.
In addition, the pool area must be equipped with appropriate rescue equipment, medical supplies, and clear safety signage. All equipment must remain readily accessible and fully operational at all times, with maintenance responsibility resting with the operator.
Sufficient personnel must be present in the pool area with certified first aid training. Minimum staffing levels:
- 1 person for medium-sized pools.
- 2 persons for large pools.
When the pool configuration creates blind spots or prevents full visual control, supervision must be adjusted accordingly. This may include positioning the lifeguard at an elevated location to ensure continuous, effective monitoring of the entire area.
Water Quality
The current framework also imposes specific technical requirements for pool operation, including water renewal, acceptable pH levels, residual chlorine limits, and the performance of regular checks recorded in the relevant logs.
For the responsible operator, compliance must be demonstrable. The systematic recording of inspections is a fundamental obligation, as the absence of such documentation may lead to liability, even when technical standards have been met in reality.
Beyond documentation, the manager must also conduct a substantive review of the unit’s insurance coverage. This obligation extends beyond confirming the existence of a policy. It extends to understanding its actual scope and whether it reflects the business’s operational realities.
