Maintaining pool safety
September 19th 2008 08:44
Now is the time for swimming pool and spa owners to ensure their safety barriers are properly maintained and working.
Every private swimming pool or spa capable of containing a depth of water exceeding 300mm must have a childproof safety barrier. A building permit is also required prior to installing the barrier.
The responsibility for safety barrier maintenance applies to all home-owners with a pool or spa, regardless of whether they have children living there or not.
It is law that swimming pools or spas on private residential properties in Victoria provide safety barriers to restrict access to the pool or spa. There are fines for failing to comply.
Properly maintained safety barriers around pools are a vital measure to help secure the safety not only of the home-owners’ children, but also that of friends’ and neighbours’ children.
Drowning is the most common cause of preventable death for children under 5 years of age. Pool fencing significantly reduces the risk of drowning. Research shows the risk of drowning in a fenced pool is about one quarter of that of drowning in an unfenced pool
Safety Barrier Tips
• Maintain gates and fences regularly
• Fit correct safety measures to gates, doors and windows
• Make sure no tree branches, pool pumps or pot plants are within a 1.2 metre radius of the safety barrier and be sure no chairs or boxes could be dragged over which children could climb to gain access to the pool or spa
• Remove any chairs, boxes, pool pumps etc that could be used to climb the barrier to access the pool or spa
• It is an offence to prop open any gate or door providing access to a pool or spa.
• Penalties apply for infringements to these regulations
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