Issue Date:  -  Thursday, 15 January 2004

Swimming pool proprietor prosecuted on safety breach

Supplying a pool with a skimmer box that contravened a Product Safety Order has earned Kingsley Quinlivan (58) of Kingsley a $600 fine and another $600 in costs.

Mr Quinlivan who operated Kingsley Swimming Pools appeared yesterday in the Joondalup Court of Petty Sessions.

The maximum penalty for this offence could have been $20,000 however the magistrate took Mr Quinlivan’s limited income into account and noted that for this reason the fine was lower than it otherwise would have been.

"The Product Safety Order is in place to prevent reoccurrences of horrific injuries caused by children sitting in non compliant skimmer boxes that look just like a seat or potty" Consumer Protection Commissioner Patrick Walker said.

A skimmer box is the cleaning and filtering unit at the side of a pool or spa with operates on a pump, causing water and debris to be vacuumed into the unit.

All swimming pools and spas purchased or installed from 1988 are subject to the Order.

"Serious internal injuries even causing death can occur within seconds due to the strong suction.

"To comply with safety standards skimmer boxes must have a safety skirt securely in place and a lid securely fixed that can only be removed by using an appropriate tool", Mr. Walker said.

Anyone who suspects that their pool or spa may not comply, or may have information about a pool or spa which does not should contact Consumer Protection Product Safety Officers for advice on 9244 3753