Swimming Pool Safety

1. Overview

The consequences of a small child being able to enter your pool enclosure through a gap in a fence are often tragic and can be prevented by simply taking a few easy measures.

A special pool safety checklist has been set up by Royal Life Saving for anyone in Australia to download. The checklist urges people to check swimming pool gates, swimming pool fences as well as looking at issues like chemicals around pools, supervision issues, emergency preparation and other matters. The check list can be down loaded from the following website: Water Safety at Home | Royal Life Saving Society - Australia

 

Ownership of a swimming pool provides many hours of pleasure and is a great leisure time activity, but in turn carries a large burden of responsibility to maintain it in a manner fit for persons to use.

It is essential that children are watched at all times by a responsible adult, as many drownings occur in the brief moments when parents are distracted. Never leave children alone in the pool area.

Parents are also encouraged to introduce their children to water safety at an early age and to attend swimming classes. Parents should also learn resuscitation in case of an emergency. You can view the updated CPR Guidelines here: guideline-8-cardiopulmonary-resuscitation-cpr-225.pdf(PDF, 192KB)

2. Swimming Pool Register

Pool owners are required by legislation to register their backyard swimming pool on the NSW Government's Swimming Pool Register, which can be found at www.swimmingpoolregister.nsw.gov.au.

For those pool owners who do not have access to a computer please contact Council for assistance.

The Swimming Pool Register will provide pool owners with pool safety checklists to help them assess whether their pool meets safety standards.

Fines may be applied to owners who fail to register their pool.

Any property owner who has a pool and wishes to sell or lease their property will be required to obtain a Compliance Certificate.

For more pool safety information and tips go to www.bepoolsafe.com.au.

During the hot Summer months there is a large increase in the number of inflatable swimming pools in the Bland Shire. A high percentage of these pools can be easily seen and accessed from both public and private properties.

Council has concerns with the ease of access to these swimming pools and more importantly, the non compliance of Child Resistant Barriers surrounding these inflatable swimming pools.

3. Pool Fencing

Statistical evidence shows that the majority of drownings in private swimming pools involves children under the age of 5 years. Inadequate pool fencing is a major contributing factor to drownings. Key pool safety requirements in NSW are outlined by

NSW Department of Fair Trading HERE

The most up to fate legislation relating to pool fencing is available HERE

Australian Building Codes HERE

4. Inflatable Swimming Pools

Do inflatable swimming pools need fencing?

The Swimming Pools Act 1992, states that a swimming pool which is capable of being filled to a depth of 300mm or more, MUST be surrounded by a Child Resistant Barrier.

Swimming pool safety is an issue that Council does not take lightly and council officers will be doing their utmost to ensure compliance with the Act and Regulations to prevent a drowning tragedy occurring in the future.

Council reminds residents of the Bland Shire that copies of its Swimming Pool Policy and check lists are available from Council and that before purchasing any swimming pool to check with Council to ensure compliance with Regulations.

If a child is in or around water, it is important that they be SUPERVISED at all times.