Supervision around common area swimming pools

(Updated 6 November 2024)

It is alarming how many people allow their children to go to the pool on common property without adequate supervision. We often see young children around communal pools, especially during the holiday season, unsupervised while their parents are at work. It is almost as if the parents have left their children to the care of the community.

Trustees, estate management, managing agents, and on-site security personnel need to be mindful of this issue. We are not suggesting that management become aftercare supervisors. Rather, we are advocating for a strict adherence to the scheme’s rules and safety precautions regarding swimming pools, assuming these are in place and aligned with safety regulations.

Current community scheme legislation, specifically the prescribed conduct rules, does not address swimming pool behaviour. Ideally, bodies corporate with swimming pools should create new or revise their existing pool rules and incorporate these into their conduct rules. These rules should be displayed prominently at the pool and, more importantly, strictly enforced. Displaying a local emergency services number is also a good idea.

In a previous blog article, we alluded to the importance of these safety measures. More recently, legal academic expert Dr. Carryn Melissa Durham authored an excellent article, which is avaible on the Stratafin website. She touches on many of these points, concluding with suggestions for rule inclusions. This article, along with videos and other resources, is available via our swimming pool link below.

We emphasise the need for better supervision of children at communal pools. Without compromising their fun, it’s essential to take an educational approach to pool safety. The person supervising children in the pool must be capable, responsible, and able to handle an emergency confidently, preferably with strong swimming skills themselves.

Drownings can happen quickly and quietly, so it is crucial that the person responsible for supervision remains vigilant and undistracted.

Trustees and managing agents involved in managing common property must ensure safety, upkeep, and rule enforcement around common area swimming pools. Owners and residents should adhere to these rules. Let’s all take extra care and follow some basic precautions, such as ensuring that the gate is always shut and the self-closing device or spring mechanism is always in good working condition.