New safety measures at Harpenden Swimming Pool

St Albans City and District Council has installed an underwater camera safety system at Harpenden Swimming Pool as part of ongoing measures to help improve pool safety.

The operation and safety of all Council-owned pools is regularly looked at and it has been decided that to improve systems a PoolView Drowning Prevention System will be installed. This devise is designed to help reduce the risk of injury and drowning.

This technology is in use in many public swimming pools around the country and is gradually becoming a standard pool safety measure. The system uses an underwater camera to relay images to a monitor attached to the lifeguards' chair. It helps the lifeguards to provide an even better service while on poolside and will give swimmers additional peace of mind.

The lifeguards' monitor displays eight underwater views allowing them to observe the full water volume within the pool as part of their normal lifeguarding procedures. As is standard practice, images are protected and managed in accordance with the requirements of the Data Protection Act.

Councillor Mike Wakely, Portfolio Holder for Sport, Leisure and Heritage at St Albans City and District Council, said: "As a council, we take the safety and security of our customers very seriously and this new system will help improve safety at Harpenden Swimming Pool by enabling the lifeguards to monitor activity within the pool effectively."

Scott Machen, Contract Manager, at Leisure Connection, the company which manages Harpenden Swimming Pool on behalf of the Council, said: "This new system will give the lifeguards extra visibility on what is happening in the pool and will help them protect customers from any risk of injury or drowning."

A similar pool system will also be installed at the new Westminster Lodge Leisure Centre which is due to be completed in late 2012.

Photo courtesy of Meesho's flickr stream

Source: http://www.harpendenpeople.co.uk/New-safety-measures-Harpenden-Swimming-Pool/story-13910949-detail/story.html

Agent had no pool safety training, inquest told

Norrie Ross

From:Herald Sun

November 19, 2011 12:00AM

PROPERTY managers receive no formal training in pool safety, an inquest on a toddler heard yesterday.

Laura Teal said she knew nothing about pool fences when the girl's mother raised concerns about safety during an inspection of a property the family rented from AFL coach Mark Harvey.

At the June 2008 inspection, Monica Harris said she was worried her three-year-old daughter Lauren might squeeze through a gap in the pool fence where it joined a barbecue.

Ms Teal said she didn't think the fence was dangerous or that it was an "issue" because she knew the Harveys had lived there with their young children.

Ms Teal said she completed a number of courses at the Real Estate Institute of Victoria, but pool safety was never mentioned.

"There was nothing in my training that informed me as to the specific requirements, standards, guidelines with regard to pool fences," she said.

"I'm not trained in pool fencing. The REIV should be putting something in their education."

Lauren Harris drowned at the house in Roberts St, Essendon, that her parents rented from the Harveys in September 2008.

Ms Harris raised the issue of the pool fence around the barbecue and her concerns about toddler access, Ms Teal said.

"She asked me to gain the landlord's permission to put up lattice at her own expense," she said.

The inquest has heard that the bluestone barbecue provided "climbing steps for small children" to a gap in the pool fence.

Ms Teal said Donna Harvey told her in an email: "Tell them they can put something up near the pool at their own expense."

The inquest before deputy state coroner Iain West is expected to continue in March next year.

REIV chief executive officer Enzo Raimondo said outside court that licensed real estate agents had a responsibility to be aware of laws relating to letting and selling property.

"The REIV licence course includes content relating to pool fences and there is assessment on that issue to ensure students understand the requirements. Ms Teal did not complete her licence course with the REIV."

Check Your Pool Fence Now!

Ashleigh Williamson

Swimming pools are a constant source of summer fun which can instantly become dangerous.

Statistics show 300 children under five have drowned and died in pools in the past nine years, including 28 in the past 12 months.

Michael and JoAnn Morris were one set of parents who saved their son Samuel from drowning in 2006.

However, Samuel was left with severe brain injuries and lifelong disabilities.

‘‘My son was a bright, happy, cuddly little boy until he had a near-drowning experience in our home pool (aged two),’’ Mr Morris said.

‘‘He shook a faulty panel which came away and gave him access.’’

PoolWerx and Royal Life Saving Society of Australia are partners in the Keep Watch program, which promotes swimming safety.

Mr Morris said checking fencing around home pools was vital.

‘‘We assumed when we moved in that the fence complied with Australian standards,’’ he said.

‘‘We found out after Samuel’s accident that wasn’t the case and (the pool fence) had never been inspected .’’

Royal Life Saving Society chief executive Rob Bradley estimated 85 per cent of home pools did not meet safety standards or were not fenced.

‘‘There are way too many people saying I’ll get around to checking the fence sometime,’’ he said.

‘‘Check it now.

‘‘It’s extremely frustrating to have home pool owners sometimes question the need for a pool fence.

‘‘All pools have to be fenced in Australia.’’

PoolWerx chief executive John O’Brien said the company wanted to help achieve the Australian target of halving the number of child drownings by 2020.

‘‘We are working every day with people to ensure Australian home pools are safe, healthy swimming environments,’’ he said.

‘‘If we can help save the life of just one child by completing a complimentary poolside health check, we’re making a substantial difference.’’

The Keep Watch Program is promoting four messages:

-Ask people to supervise children when they are in or near water;

-Restrict children’s water access;

-Teach children about water safety; and

-Ensure adults know how to resuscitate someone in need.

Pool Laws Expensive For Coast Landlords

"Jessica Johnston | January 6th, 2011

Rental property owner Alison Conrad is not able to rent her property until her backyard pool fence is compliant with the new rules. Photo: David Clark

TENANTS face eviction and landlords will be left without income as controversial new swimming pool laws begin to affect the Gold Coast rental market.

Unit complexes, private home owners and sellers have a grace period to comply with the laws introduced on December 1 but landlords of properties with pools must have a safety certification before leases can be signed or renewed.

Many pool inspectors are booked out weeks in advance and a large percentage of pools fail the first inspection, leading to further delays as problems are fixed."

read more...

Coast hotels on notice to fence pools

Anne-Louise Brown

"AFTER dropping prices to counter dwindling tourist numbers, Gold Coast resort and motel operators are now being slugged to make swimming pool fences compliant with new state safety standards.

New laws were introduced across Queensland yesterday and, for the first time, resorts and motels which were previously exempt, have been ordered to comply.

Gold Coast Tourism boss Martin Winter described the changes as "very concerning" and said the matter had been raised with the State Government."

Click here to read more