Mar2011 POOL SAFETY AND THE NEW REGULATIONS
The Queensland Government, through the Department of Infrastructure and Planning, has created the Pool Safety Council, and have applied a whole new legislation affecting Pools and Pool Safety. This came into effect as of the 1st December, 2010.
Hence, all previous Pool Safety Regulations, combined with the required fencing and barriers to pools, have been effectively superseded by all previous rules.
This has been done to not only protect individual pool Owners, but protect the community as a whole. It may surprise some people, that there were 314 reported drownings in 2010. Obviously any responsible person would be aghast at this figure, and would wish for a reduction down to zero.
This can be achieved by pool Owners having a responsible pool management programme, combined with absolute pool safety in respect to the barriers around their respective pools.
It no longer suffices to observe the rules which might have dictated the construction of pools, prior to the new ACT. The 1st December heralded the beginning of reducing pool deaths, and ensuring that this became the norm, for the future.
Hence, in concert with the Pool Safety Council, Pool Safety Inspectors have been trained and appointed. The role of those Inspectors is quite simple, and that is to ensure that we reduce pool deaths, by appealing to the broader Community to observe, and have tested, the new regulations.
Obviously the Inspectors come at a regulated cost, but, it is not a Tax, it is a necessary cost to ensure that our Community does not incur the trauma of a pool death.
As a Pool Owner, and, a Pool Inspector, I am sure that of the 300,000 pools in QLD, due to the lack of information previously handed down to the Public, that varying opinions prevail, in respect to Pool Safety. As a consensus, 90% of QLD pools are in a fashion, deemed unsafe under the new regulations, and fines are applicable for non compliance.
One analogy of this, is that if a pool gate is propped open during a function, when Children were using the Pool, if observed by a representative of the controlling Body, the fine is $16500. That is just how keen the Pool Safety Council, and it’s Officers, are, to eradicate deaths or accidents in pools.
Should you have questions, or wish for direction, I am happy to take calls on 0412 721 760, to assist in your understanding of the new regulations, and the need for same.
This has been done to not only protect individual pool Owners, but protect the community as a whole. It may surprise some people, that there were 314 reported drownings in 2010. Obviously any responsible person would be aghast at this figure, and would wish for a reduction down to zero.
This can be achieved by pool Owners having a responsible pool management programme, combined with absolute pool safety in respect to the barriers around their respective pools.
It no longer suffices to observe the rules which might have dictated the construction of pools, prior to the new ACT. The 1st December heralded the beginning of reducing pool deaths, and ensuring that this became the norm, for the future.
Hence, in concert with the Pool Safety Council, Pool Safety Inspectors have been trained and appointed. The role of those Inspectors is quite simple, and that is to ensure that we reduce pool deaths, by appealing to the broader Community to observe, and have tested, the new regulations.
Obviously the Inspectors come at a regulated cost, but, it is not a Tax, it is a necessary cost to ensure that our Community does not incur the trauma of a pool death.
As a Pool Owner, and, a Pool Inspector, I am sure that of the 300,000 pools in QLD, due to the lack of information previously handed down to the Public, that varying opinions prevail, in respect to Pool Safety. As a consensus, 90% of QLD pools are in a fashion, deemed unsafe under the new regulations, and fines are applicable for non compliance.
One analogy of this, is that if a pool gate is propped open during a function, when Children were using the Pool, if observed by a representative of the controlling Body, the fine is $16500. That is just how keen the Pool Safety Council, and it’s Officers, are, to eradicate deaths or accidents in pools.
Should you have questions, or wish for direction, I am happy to take calls on 0412 721 760, to assist in your understanding of the new regulations, and the need for same.
Dennis Bell,
Rush Creek
