Home -> Law Blog Directory -> Personal Injury Law Blogs -> San Antonio Personal Injury Lawyer

Personal Injury Law

: San Antonio Personal Injury Lawyer

Swimming Pools Still Non Compliant with Pool Drains

By Beth Janicek

Back in January I blogged on this very subject wherein 80% of public swimming pools were in violation of a federal safety rule preventing people becoming trapped in pool drains. It is now July, the middle of the summer and swimming is in full force exposing adults and children to this deadly hazard of unsafe pool drains.

The Today Show did an investigation on public pools across the country. Amazingly, they uncovered that Marriott Hotels & Resorts were among one of the hotel chains that has not complied with this potentially deadly issue and has continued to keep their pools operational despite the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act setting new standards for drain covers for public pools, spas, and hot tubs. Inez Moore, the chairman for the Consumer Product Safety Commission, has stated that this is unacceptable and she is prepared to tell the attorneys general and state agencies that all pools should be in compliance with this new law and that there is no grace period.

Marriott has stated:

In pursuing an aggressive compliance plan, we have faced many of the same challenges confronted by others throughout the hospitality industry, namely, delays in receiving necessary parts from suppliers, (as acknowledged by the Consumer Product Safety Commission), and confusion among local authorities regarding permitting procedures and unclear health department regulations. Despite these difficulties, most of our pools are in compliance with the act.

Quite contrary to what Marriott states, Myles McMorrow, who is an International Export Manager with poolcenter.com, and in the industry informed me that the drains are not that much money and his company has all the products necessary to comply with the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act.

Hopefully the public's awareness on this issue will help save the lives of other children so families don't have to suffer what Abigail Taylor's and Graeme Baker's families have had to endure.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Beth Janicek

Full post as published by San Antonio Personal Injury Lawyer on July 10, 2009 (boomark / email).