Pool fencing laws a ‘farce’

Press, 15 July 1983, Page 4

Pool fencing laws a ‘farce’

PA Auckland Discrepancies in the law over the protection of swimming pools have lead to a farcical situation, says the director of medical services for the Plunket Society, Dr lan Hassall. He said that on construction sites any excavation likely to collect or retain water and prove a hazard to children was legally required to be covered and fenced. “So the farcical situation exists where legislation states that the hole in the ground into which a pool will go must be protected because it might contain water, but once the hole becomes a pool and contains water, protection is no longer required by law,” said Dr Hassall. He was concerned that recent reports from Christchurch in the “New Zealand Medical Journal” indicated that more swimming pools were being installed, but proportionately fewer were being fenced in a way that would keep out small children. Fencing of swimming pools is under discussion by the Local Bills Committee of Parliament.