Woman Falls From Ledge on Above Ground Pool

Case Overview

This case takes place in Kansas and involves an elderly female who was assisting in cleaning an above ground swimming pool at his son’s home. She stood on the ledge of the above ground pool, which bent off of the pool structure, and she fell onto the ground sustaining a variety of injuries. The woman and her family allege that the pool wasn’t properly designed, manufactured and/or installed – which led to this injury. However, various warning signs and labels, as well as information in the user instruction manual provided by the pool installer and manufacturer explain that this ledge is not for standing purposes. The attorneys on this case required an expert with an extensive background in swimming pool design, installation and safety to inspect the pool in question to determine whether or not it met all applicable standards for safety.

Questions to the Occupational Health and Safety expert and their responses

Please explain your expertise in design / installation / safety of swimming pools.

I have a wealth of knowledge in swimming pool design, installation, and safety. I am a certified pool inspector and own my own pool operations consulting firm.

Have you ever served as an expert witness on a claim similar to the one described above?

I have served as an expert witness on numerous swimming pool cases and am familiar with the protocol for above ground pool. It is clear that this woman should not have been standing on the ledge; there is an enormous amount of warnings and standards against that type of behavior.