The SA Bureau of Standards (SABS) has been through a public participation process to agree the Standards around what constitutes Safety around Private Swimming Pools (SANS 10134). This Standard is also referred to in the National Building Act, SANS 10400D where it addresses public access to pools.

There is no real safety champion in the industry and this is a role which PowerPlastics Pool Covers finds itself increasingly adopting. Tragedies offer no benefit of hindsight as it is too late!! Pool Shops, Pool Maintenance businesses as well as Swim Schools, can be fantastic ambassadors for safety around pools if they embraced the idea sufficiently.

Modern safety covers are easy to use without hooks and eyelets – a fact which must be communicated to pool owners who have an impression that such covers use hooks and eyelets and are extremely difficult to operate.

In the current environment, the pool owner is safety proofing his own pool by directly contacting the few companies who produce the correct safety covers. This does not say much for the industry’s commitment to safety.

Pool safety does not mean unsightly fences, difficult to use covers and nets that require time and effort to use. Safety can be provided through an elegant cover which enhances the entertainment area and can be manufactured in the customers choice of colour. Safety covers offer other benefits too – reduced evaporation, cleaner pools, less chemical usage and do not accumulate rain water!

South Africa lags behind most of the world in pool safety. Let’s get involved, apply the Standard and make South Africa’s pools safe. Don’t wait until it is too late to save a little life. Don’t wait for legislation to force us to make a dangerous household item safe. Don’t wait for someone else to do something or for someone else’s tragedy to make you act.

By Carolyn Idas, PowerPlastics Pool Covers

Why is it then, when operating within a home environment, similar stringent safety precautions are not expected? The pool industry needs to seriously consider safety around a pool. Pool builders need to lead first-time pool owners in terms of the hazards of owning a pool.

Parents need to understand and also have the dangers of having a pool pointed out to them.

All players need to take the necessary precautions.

As South Africans, we are conscious of children not strapped in safely when in cars, we are aware of the dangers around crime and violence in our streets with respect to children but still we leave our pools uncovered?

We at PowerPlastics Pool Covers would like to make pool owners and the industry aware of the dangers of drowning and encourage all to take up the opportunity to make our swimming pools safe to those who cannot swim.

It is for this reason that we wish to educate and inform people on their options, garner support, and prevent further tragedies.

It is indeed a historical time in the local pool industry. We welcome all commentators from the industry, local government, industry watchdogs and the public at large to get involved, discuss, debate (sensibly!) and elaborate on the various aspects around the issue of pool-related safety. If you have any hard facts and statistics, feel free to comment and share.

Is pool safety top of your list?

Caryn Formby, PowerPlastics Pool Covers