Child Safety around backyard Aquaponics.

[toraman]

Haven't read this talked about and something maybe not chosen to be thought about due to the hassle of fencing etc. I suppose FTs would be classed by the gov as a pond or even a pool in some cases. I don't have kids but like to stay within the law and it would be the worse tragedy imaginable for some kid to drown after jumping the fence or visitors kids. I'm think my IBC FT may need lockable covers and the pond I want to dig deeper will need a steel reinforcement cover.

What steps have others taken in this regard?

[Tsaphah]

Teach my kids to swim!

I did have a lockable latch on my IBC FT, but I rather teach children of the danger, let them look, and soon they are off doing other things.

We can not go around trying to make everything safe, then people don't think for themselves what the danger is, which is even more dangerous. I see it every day at work, and many incidents are because someone didn't think it could go wrong....

Ill get off my soapbox now.

[toraman]

I see it every day at work, and many incidents are because someone didn't think it could go wrong....

Unfortunately this is partly why I'm thinking its worth bringing up. Accidents happen to people even when trained or taught the dangers. Thats why gov make the rules and regulate to cover their butts, guess I want to cover my butt too.

Understand where your coming from and tend to agree, just don't think coroners court would - neither the poor grieving kids family who'd justify taking me for everything.

[GreenPhoenix]

We can not go around trying to make everything safe, then people don't think for themselves what the danger is, which is even more dangerous.....

That is the point that I think is the most important... as a high school teacher now for almost ten years, I can say that many of my students EXPECT someone else to take care of them. Someone else to make sure that everything is safe and that all danger is removed.

I think that is 100% wrong. I believe fully that common sense is not that common any more. We as a society need to educate everyone how to think for themselves and to make proper choices regarding their own safety.


...and now I will get off the soapbox that Tsaphah brought in... Otherwise there will be a rant that no one wants to hear1!

Cheers, Green Phoenix

[Murray]

There was an very sad death of a child in an AP system about 4 years ago. A member of BYAP forum at the time. Happened so quick. Very sad indeed.

We make a "kiddie Cover" for our kits of very heavy hardwood. Some elect to add a lock to be sure, but the weight of the cover is such that a three or four year old would not be able too open it to climb in.

[toraman]

ha ha, thats all welcome feedback Tsaphah and Greenphoenix. Lets leave the soapbox out.
I remember when travelling though parts of South East Asia and seeing all the deep open drains and thinking to myself how easy it would be to fall down one. I think all the processed food and drugs people in the west take is effecting our brains requiring even more drugs to be taken....then of course eventually those people taking drugs end up making the rules.

Murray, its good your design works well .... for my IBC system, I've been waiting to come across some free offcuts of heavy duty form ply, mainly thinking the cover needs to be strong enough to kneel up on to access the GBs and light enough to access regularly (on a hinge) with ease....... so I'll be keeping my eyes open for a easy locking system, thats childproof.

I'll love to see photos of what others have used and of course the soapbox is nailed down to hear any rants.

[Tsaphah]

Hi Toraman,

As I had to get in and clean my tank of algae once before, I ended up assembling a box frame covered with building insulation foil to keep the light out.... the result was an extra lid, which makes it difficult (but not impossible...if you have kids, you will know what I mean) for them to get both hatches open. They can still lift the inside one enough to feed and look.

And no soapbox for them to climb up on

[SolTun]

http://www.ehow.com/videos-on_8557_c...rd-safety.html

http://www.kidsafewa.com.au/_literat...ackyard_Safety

I came up with loads when I googeled your heading, the links are just two, off many good.

I think you are adressing a wery importante issue, and dough I understand the frustration beetwen the lines in some of the responses.
The fact is that death/injury at home/woork is reduced by 90% compared to the 60's when I grew up(the good old common scence days), lets keep on reducing those numbers further huh?

By the way howm make all these new silly over protecting rules/regulationes?
Well in Norway its people 40-50 years and up(like me 47) that suposently grew up in a much better time? My selfe for example had loads off common sense at age 4 or 19 or 21, unlike my children that now are at that age.
And offcourse my mum and dad, had much more common sense, than me iff you ask them.

[toraman]

Thanks for the replies and photos guys, its not a popular topic as it forces us to consider having to retrofit existing systems and to design safety (child or adult) into new ones. As aquaponics is sort of unregulated, its up to the pioneers to make safety a top priority when helping others - particularly DYI systems.

Another thing I've been thinking about for a future DYI GB project is thinking about how to eliminate sharp edges using the materials I will be using.

Anything else worth considering? Electrical safety also comes to mind.

[bigdaddy]

Hi Toreman,thanks for bringing this topic up,

You have me thinking,better check the AP system and make sure it is indeed child safe.

I did ring up my local council/shire, and spoke to them about it,maybe 6 months ago, and even my 500 litre tubs without a lid could well be illegal today and with good reason.I think it is a very good, wise idea to talk to your local council regarding this, and fit the required constraints or as in my case make your house and property child safe when it comes to water safety.It is also important to educate your children regarding all safety around your house, including water safety.

It may be a little more expensive and require a little more effort, but if it stops a child death,it is well worth it.

Cheers.