Local governments are working to clear a backlog of inspections of private pool safety barriers in the wake of an Ombudsman Western Australia report on children drowning. The law requires that WA local councils inspect private pools in their jurisdiction at least once every four years to ensure they have complying fences or other safety barriers. In last year’s investigation report on ways to...

With warmer weather on the way, West Australians are reminded that pools with water deeper than 30cm must have complying safety barriers to prevent child drownings. This is one of the key messages that the Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety will share at this weekend’s Pool, Spa and Outdoor Living Expo . The department’s Building & Energy and Consumer Protection teams are...

Do you have a Vulcan Heritage or a Pyrox Heritage gas heater? People with Vulcan Heritage or Pyrox Heritage gas heaters in their homes need to get them checked by a qualified gas fitter immediately. Laboratory tests show that under certain conditions the heaters produce too much carbon monoxide. Particularly if homes have poor ventilation and bathroom exhaust fans or kitchen rangehoods are used...

With Acting Consumer Protection Commissioner David Hillyard Consumers suffering allergic reactions to sunscreen or burns when wearing it have been reported in the media recently, so it seemed timely to provide some tips for buyers and users. We’re not skin specialists or cancer experts at Consumer Protection, which means we’ve sourced information from WA’s Department of Health and The Australian...