Unsafe spa and pool skimmer boxes, filters, outlets and covers

Supply safe spa and pool filters, outlets and covers

Only supply spa and pool filters, outlets and covers that are designed to minimise the risk of:

• entrapment of hair and parts of a person's body, which can cause drowning
• serious internal injuries that can result when a person sits on an open potty-shaped skimmer box. Children have been disembowelled by the strong suction of these filters after sitting on them.

Safe models

Safe models are those covered by Australian and American voluntary standards. These standards include Australian or ASME/ ANSI / ASTM Standard having the purpose of reducing or minimising the likelihood of entrapment, and include:

• AS1926.3
• AS2610.2
• AS2818
• ANSI A112.

Inform consumers about risks

Inform consumers about the hazards associated with unsafe models or filters, outlets and covers that do not work as intended, such as:

• open potty shaped skimmer boxes that children or adults can sit on—the suction can cause serious internal injuries 
• outlets or filters that are open and can trap hair or body parts
• single drainage outlets at the bottom of the pool or spa, rather than on the sides—the suction can trap a person and cause drowning
• outlet and filter covers that can easily come off and give access to filters or outlets that can trap hair or body parts or cause serious internal injuries.

Encourge consumers to take steps to maintain the safety of their spas and pools

Encourage consumers who have any of the above products to:

• immediately stop using the pool or spa
• replace any unsafe skimmer boxes, outlets, filters or covers with models that comply with Australian or American voluntary standards.

Encourage consumers to have annual checks of their pools and spas to ensure all filters, outlets and covers are safe and working as intended.