Hazard type

Drowning
Entrapment
Internal injury

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Risks and injuries from the product

If a child gets trapped in a 'potty-style' skimmer box, they are at risk of getting serious internal injuries or drowning.

Children have been disembowelled by the strong suction action after sitting on open skimmer boxes.

Unsafe covers on filter outlets or suction points can come off, creating the risk of hair, clothing or parts of the body being trapped. A person may then be dragged under the water and drown. Unsafe outlets and filters can also trap a person's hair, clothing or parts of their body.

Products the ban applies to

The ban covers:

  • 'potty-style' skimmers designed for installation in domestic swimming pools and spas
  • pool or spa outlets that aren’t designed to reduce or minimise the likelihood of trapping a person's body or hair when in use
  • portable swimming pools or spas that contain integrally moulded 'potty-style' skimmers or outlets.

Swimming pools and spas with 'potty-style' skimmer boxes are unsafe.

They aren’t designed to reduce or minimise the likelihood of trapping a person's body or hair when in use.

These skimmer boxes:

  • look like a children's potty or toilet
  • operate at water level as a suction point for circulating the water and trapping leaves and other debris
  • have no fixed protective device to stop a person becoming lodged or caught by the suction when in use.
An outdoor spa

View the full details of this ban at Consumer Protection Notice No. 16 of 2011.

Check existing pools and spas

If you are moving to a home with an existing pool and spa you should check for skimmer boxes.

  • Check if the pool or spa meets the Australian and American voluntary standards. If not, stop using it and replace the skimmer box, outlets, filters or covers with models that do comply.
  • Check that it does not have an open, potty-shaped skimmer box that children or adults can sit on.
  • Check whether there are outlets or filters that are open and may trap hair or body parts.
  • Check if the covers easily come off and give access to filters or outlets that can trap hair or body parts or cause serious internal injuries.
  • Make sure it does not have single bottom drainage outlets at the bottom of the pool or spa. If it does, avoid using the pool or spa. If these get blocked or damaged, they can create pressure that can trap and pin a person under water and cause drowning.
  • Avoid using spas or swimming pools that have moulded skimmer boxes with no lid or a lid that children can easily remove.
  • Look for safe models covered by Australian and American voluntary standards. These include: AS1926.3, AS2610, AS281, and ANSI A112.
  • Ask pool and spa suppliers for proof that products will minimise the possibility of entrapment.
  • Conduct an annual safety check with a spa and pool supplier to ensure filters and outlets are safe and are working as intended.

What to do if a banned product is being sold

If you are supplying the product

If you become aware that you are supplying a banned or unsafe product, you must:

  1. immediately stop supplying the product
  2. conduct a product recall and let consumers know
  3. notify the ACCC within 2 days of taking recall action.

If you find the product for sale

If you’re aware of any banned or unsafe products being supplied in Australia, you can report the unsafe product to the ACCC.

Report an unsafe product

Penalties for supplying banned products

Supplying a banned product can result in the ACCC taking action. This may result in a:

  • fine
  • court enforceable undertaking
  • disqualification from being a company director
  • court action with penalties
  • product recall.