FOUR COMMON POOL SAFETY COMPLIANCE ISSUES FOR STRATA COMPLEXES

Pool safety compliance is a responsibility shared by body corporates, building managers, strata managers and residents. Knowing some of the key issues and common risks will help you meet these obligations.

Body corporate members and building managers are generally quite vigilant regarding pool safety. As such, pool enclosures in strata complexes are usually well maintained and compliant. Most issues are generally caused by a lack of awareness of pool safety guidelines or accidental damage to the fence or gates.

Education is the key and the more people in the process who are aware of the basic requirements as well as the most common risks, the more likely we are of providing a safe aquatic environment for residents. This article won’t attempt to cover every pool safety compliance issue, but here are four common things you should keep an eye out for:

1. Pool gates

The most significant aspect of pool safety compliance is pool gates. Young children learn very quickly that gates are the way into a pool area and given the opportunity, may seek to gain access via the gate. If the gate has not self-closed and latched properly after the last user or there are light-weight plastic chairs in the area that could be dragged up to the gate by a young child, the consequences can be tragic. Pool gates must always self-close from any position (including from as little as a finger’s width open). It is also critical that light-weight plastic chairs are not left outside a pool enclosure. It is worth noting that that the pool safety guidelines were developed for children aged one to four as the highest-risk age group for drownings.

Some body corporates and/or building managers choose to lock pool gates. The pool safety guidelines do not require that a pool gate be locked. This is more a matter for security to prevent unauthorised use. However, the downside of having a locking system on a pool gate is that it can often impede the gate’s ability to self-close. Therefore, there is a need to be extra vigilant with checking the closing mechanism on locked gates.

The latches on pool gates often get out of alignment due to constant use, and hinge springs lose their tension over time. On a positive note, most pool gate latches and hinges are fully adjustable. Body corporate members and building managers should regularly check that their pool gates self-close and adjust the latch alignment and hinge spring tension if required.

2. Climbable items

Another very common pool safety hazard is the placement of climbable items within 900mm of the outside of the pool fence or within 300mm of the inside of the pool fence (refer to Figure 1).

It is rare to see climbable items outside pool fences at strata complexes, however, outdoor furniture such as plastic chairs and sun lounges is often left within 300mm of the inside of pool fences. Climbable items this close to the inside of a pool fence is a compliance issue as young children can put limbs through the uprights and use the furniture as hand or footholds to get over the fence.

Body corporate members and building managers can educate residents on the risks with leaving outdoor furniture within 300mm of the inside of pool fences through good communication such as signage, newsletters and Facebook groups.

3. Loose pool fence panels

An experienced pool safety inspector will walk along next to a pool fence and shake every panel. The reason this is done is to ensure every panel is secured in place. It is extremely common for the self-tapping screws to work their way out over time. This is especially so for strata complexes where the panels can be subjected to a lot of movement, such as children kicking balls against the fence.

Pool fence panels can also become detached from their posts due to corrosion in the screws holding them in place. Chemicals in pool water can be very harsh on pool fence fixtures, especially if the installer used uncoated mild steel self-tapping screws instead of galvanised or stainless-steel ones.

Once again, checks by body corporate members or building managers can help to identify these issues early.

4. CPR signs

Every pool enclosure must display a compliant CPR sign clearly visible from the pool. The most practical spot to place a CPR is inside the fence close to where one could perform CPR, for example, beside the steps where one would most likely retrieve a person from the pool. The guidelines for CPR signs were updated in 2021. The signs must now feature the DRSABCD steps down the left side and they can no longer request rescue breaths BEFORE compressions. Research showed that some people were uncomfortable with giving breaths – so the focus is now on giving compressions as that can be enough to keep a person alive until more experienced help arrives.

For more information on Queensland’s pool safety laws, visit www.qbcc.qld.gov.au/your-property/swimming-pools.

Article Contributed by Cameron Coward, Pool Safety Inspector at Guardian Pool Safety Inspections.