Bloke suffers a workplace accident and loses a bit of his ear. No lost time and looks like just a visit to the doctors.

Gee, what I would give to be part of that accident investigation! We'd certainly see the old "swiss cheese" coming into play. And it would really test our "no blame" concepts to an investigation.

Having been a council enforcement officer for Pool Fencing in a past life, there is zero provision for exemption from the Act. So maybe the issue is not the person with the clipboard but legislation that takes no account of the context of risk.

Hi - I hold a different view on the matter of swimming pool isolation. I believe it is a necessary measure.

Applying risk assessment principles and control hierarchies to domestic life, as mandated in workplaces, can significantly extend and safeguard our lives, while also reducing the societal burden on ACC.

In a residence and its surroundings, there is a general expectation of safety from harm, mostly due to the Building Code (which can't be applied retrospectively, so has to be complied with up-front). This expectation should extend to the safety of visitors and guests. Numerous incidents of children drowning in unprotected pools (and unattended bathtubs) have occurred. Each incident is a catastrophe for the affected families and also particularly distressing for homeowners when a guest's child is involved.

Leaving a pool unfenced is a known and preventable hazard. Children and their parents often learn early on that the sea is dangerous, while swimming pools are perceived as safe, influencing their behavior around each. Not all kids have a pool at home, so many have limited understanding of how to swim, or otherwise safely negotiate a home pool environment.

As a parent engaged in tasks, such as organizing a six-year-old's birthday party, while also supervising children as they explore the home, it becomes impossible to ensure safety without a secure environment. The sea, in this instance being external to the home, distracts from the lower perception of risk and vigilance associated with home safety, and is a classic 'strawman' argument.

The resistance to "isolating the danger of a swimming pool" may likely stem more from concerns over aesthetics, such as disrupting an "infinity" view. However, this should have been addressed through safety-oriented design (and in the building consent process well before it was built). It can still be easily resolved with minor aesthetic disruption by including the use of glass partitions, a solution both effective and common in many upscale residences.

It may well be that the developer/current owners don't foresee children ever frequenting the place - but is that the likely reality? People trying to build things "not to code" have to be considerate of future users.