IQL UK's National Pool Management Qualification (NPMQ) has been used by a Middle Eastern site for the first time.

Wahooo! Waterpark in Bahrain put its senior staff through NPMQ programme, which aims to prepare managers with the knowledge they need to manage health and safety in accordance with their legal obligations.

Developed with the support of the Royal Life Saving Society, the NPMQ intends to fill the gaps when it comes to industry guidance, relevant legislation, corporate manslaughter and new health and safety laws.

Damian Latham, general manager at Wahooo! Waterpark, said: "We chose to train our staff in the NPMQ because up to now there had been a large gap in terms of industry-related courses for managers for senior staff.

"Europe has some of the best standards anywhere in the world, hence we wanted to bring these world-class best practices to Bahrain."

Tara Dillon, executive director of IQL UK, added: "It is very encouraging to see the NPMQ now being run in the Middle East region as well as the UK and Ireland. The qualification sets the standard in the industry and our aim is to protect the hardworking staff that run leisure facilities."