Top 5 Common Pool Safety Non-Compliances and How to Avoid Them
Pool Safety is more than just preventing slips and trips. It’s a crucial element in protecting lives, especially young children.
Staying compliant with pool safety isn’t just about avoiding fines or meeting legal obligations – it’s about ensuring your pool area is a safe space for everyone to enjoy.
In this article, we’ll reveal the top five common pool safety Non-Compliances that we come across during our inspections. More importantly, we’ll give you practical advice on how to avoid these issues and keep your pool area safe and compliant.
So, whether you’re a landlord, body corporate or hotel manager, stick around to discover what you might be overlooking when it comes to pool safety.
#1: Pool Barrier Maintenance
The most crucial feature in any pool safety plan is the pool fencing.
Some fences are too low, have gaps that are too wide, or are too close to climbable objects – all of which pose a risk.
Queensland regulations stipulate that pool fences must be at least 1200mm high and vertical gaps should be no more than 100mm wide.
How to Avoid the Issue
- Regularly check the height and condition of your fence, including posts, panels and footings.
- Check the height after mulching or adding decorative pebbles or soil to garden surrounds. These look fantastic, but have you just made your barrier Non-Compliant?
- Remove climbable objects within a 900mm arc of the pool fence.
- Consider having a Pool Safety Inspector to provide advice and possible solutions.
#2: Faulty or Non-Compliant Gates
A pool gate is your first line of defence against accidental pool access, but it can quickly become a liability if it’s faulty or Non-Compliant.
Common issues include gates that don’t self-close or self-latch from all positions or gates that can be easily pushed open.
These issues can provide a dangerous opportunity for unsupervised access to the pool area for young children.
How to Avoid the Issue
- Ensure the gate swings away from the pool and self-closes and latches automatically from all positions, including when resting on the latch.
- Regularly check the latching mechanism and adjust if necessary.
- Avoid propping open the pool gate, the hinges become worn and require replacing over time.
- The latch or releasing mechanism should be at least 1500mm above fixed ground level, or located on the inside of the pool gate, to keep it out of reach of young kids.
#3: Climbable Branches and Other Climbing Hazards
An often overlooked but significant pool safety concern is plants, shrubs, trees and other climbing hazards being too close to the pool fence.
Children are natural explorers and may use these objects to gain a foothold or toehold, giving them access to the pool area. As a guide, if a branch or limb can support a 25kg child, it should be removed.
Other climbable hazards include bbq’s, pot plants, tables, chairs and other outdoor furniture positioned too close to the fence.
How to Avoid the Issue
- Regularly survey your pool area for potential climbing hazards.
- Trim any overhanging branches and relocate climbable objects away from the fence.
- A non-climbable zone of at least 1000mm round the outside of the pool fence is recommended.
#4: Lack of CPR Signage
It might be surprising, but one of the frequently overlooked compliance issues is the lack of appropriate CPR signage.
Having a clear, visible sign displaying cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) procedures is not only a legal requirement but could be lifesaving in the event of a pool emergency.
How to Avoid the Issue
- Ensure that your CPR sign is compliant with guidelines laid out by the Queensland government. Does your sign display the Acronym “DRSABCD”?
- You can obtain a compliant sign from pool shops, some hardware stores, or directly from your pool safety inspector.
- If you have a larger pool, consider having more than 1 CPR sign.
- Place the sign in an easily accessible location near the pool where anyone can quickly refer to it in the case of an emergency.
#5: Doors & Windows
How good!….You wake up from a great night’s sleep and step out and into your pool for a refreshing morning dip…..Wrong !……
Direct access to the pool area should not be possible. There should be a compliant barrier between a habitable dwelling and a swimming pool.
All windows accessing the pool area, should open a maximum of 100mm or have a compliant window barrier that prevents direct access from an open window.
How to Avoid the Issue
- Doors – Check there is no access from a habitable dwelling directly to the pool area and ensure there is a compliant barrier (fence/gate).
- Windows – Covered with Crimsafe or similar materials with gaps no greater than 100mm to allow airflow.
- Flyscreens can be used, however they need to be in good condition and be fixed to the building with fasteners that cannot be removed without tools.
Avoiding Pool Safety Non-Compliance Keeping Swimmers Safe on Your Watch
Regular self-checks are a practical way to maintain safety, but remember, nothing beats the keen eye of a trained professional for spotting hidden hazards and potential problems.
At Precise Pool Inspections, our commitment is to ensure that your pool meets all safety standards, providing you with peace of mind.
Don’t leave it to chance – reach out to us today for expert advice and comprehensive pool safety inspections.
Article Contributed by Adam Shelly, Director at Precise Pool Inspections.
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Could you please send me the dates of your next Body corporate training course and/or or seminars.
I am new to our (high-rise) body corporate committee and wish to learn more about the rules and regulations.
Thank you