- Private pools with more than 30cm of water must have compliant safety barriers
- Pool gates should never be propped open
- Safety requirements also apply to portable pools and aquatic toys
The Cook Government is urging Western Australians to ensure swimming pool fences and gates are installed, maintained, and used correctly to help kids stay safe this summer.
Under the State's building laws, private swimming pools, spa pools, or portable pools that contain water more than 30 centimetres deep are required to have compliant safety barriers.
While active adult supervision remains the top protection for young children around water, compliant safety barriers provide vital potentially life-saving restrictions for young children.
Sadly, swimming pool drownings remain one of the leading causes of accidental death and life-changing injury for Australian children under the age of five.
Royal Life Saving data shows more than 40 per cent of toddler drowning deaths occur in domestic pools, with access usually via the pool gate.
Propped-open pool gates are a particular risk factor for young children, who may also enter a pool area by climbing on furniture, toys, plant pots, and other objects.
While portable or temporary pools are popular summer purchases for families or Christmas presents, they are subject to the same barrier requirements as built-in pools.
Parents and carers are also reminded that aquatic toys and flotation aids are not designed to be safety devices. Age and weight restrictions should be checked for these products and and warning labels and instructions should be folloed to ensure proper assembly and use.
More information on pool barriers, including a checklist for homeowners, is available at lgirs.wa.gov.au/rules-for-pools
As stated by Commerce Minister Dr Tony Buti:
"Spending time in backyard pools is a staple of the Western Australian school holidays and festive period.
"Tragically, they can be the location of drownings and catastrophic injuries for young children. These devastating incidents can happen quickly, silently, and even in relatively shallow water.
"Western Australia's robust building laws require a compliant pool fence to be installed around all pools and spas that contain more than 30 centimetres of water to restrict access by young children. This includes portable or temporary pools.
"However, these barriers are only effective if they are used correctly. Pool gates must never be propped open and should self-close and latch every time.
"I am calling on all Western Australians to ensure young children are actively supervised by an adult near water and pool barriers are in good working order."
As stated by Royal Life Saving Society WA CEO Peter Leaversuch:
"With the warm weather and holiday season approaching, it is vital parents and carers keep constant watch and restrict access to water around the home. This is the time of year to check your pool fence and gate are in working order.
"If there is a lapse in supervision, a correctly installed and regularly maintained pool barrier can prevent your child from drowning.
"Always check you've closed the pool gate behind you, never leave the gate propped open, and ensure you restrict children's access to outdoor areas without adult supervision.
"Drowning in children is quick and silent, and a momentary lapse of supervision can be a matter of life and death. It is essential young children are not left in the care of older children when around water.
"Our Keep Watch program promotes four key messages:
- Supervise: actively supervise children around water and stay within arm's reach;
- Restrict: restrict children's access to water;
- Teach: teach children water safety skills; and
- Respond: learn how to respond in an emergency."
"We want to remind parents and carers that kids can't help themselves around water; so you need to."
