Foster care - ladder question

[hitech_hillbilly]

So we had our final walk through yesterday. We have a deck that connects to the back of the house and goes over to the pool, up along about a 3rd of the pool. Deck boards right under the pool ledge so you can jump/trip in very easily.

I'm still waiting on the deck ladder to arrive, so I'm using a Werner temporarily. The worker told us that we have to use a ladder that we can remove when we're not using the pool since it's an above ground pool. The ladder we're getting won't be able to be removed easily. But that's not what I'm worried about, I'm worried about safety. I questioned him on it because a kid could easily fall in even without the ladder, and the ladder would be the only way they could get out, and if it's not in there, they wont' be able to get out.

He basically said that because it's an above ground pool, the ladder HAS to be removed when not in use.

I can't in good conscious remove the ladder from this pool when not in use. We passed the homestudy, but I'm sure it'll be an issue when they come back out to visit. So I need to prepare to fight this.

During our initial walk through, he told us that we'll only need to use the door chimes on our alarm to make sure we'll be able to know if kids go out of the back door. So I wasn't worried about it. I'm afraid he wasn't really thinking it through clearly.

Has anyone dealt with this before? Perhaps adding a floating alarm would be a good compromise with them? Their rules are not clear regarding pools at all.

 

[Newdude]

It’s a simple case of one size fits all codes, that most certainly don’t fit all.

They will visit you unexpectedly as part of your ongoing certifications and whatnot.

I’d hate to kill the beautiful view, but I don’t see any compromise besides a gate and railing across the front of the pool.

 

[Mike5]

Here in New York, code would require a railing with a self-closing gate to access the pool area and a pool alarm with an audible alarm inside the house. Not sure about Arkansas but our building codes are based on the International Building Code, which most state's codes are. Ultimately it is up to what your local code official allows though.

 

[CT-Steven]

We went through the adoption process and there is no rhyme or reason to some of the requests and found different case workers would require/request different things. And don't ask to see where it is stated as you will be questioning their authority and dually make life more difficult in the process.

Is it the the inspector or foster care system making the request? A fence with locking gate right behind your grill would probably be the way around this.
I am surprised you are not required to have a pool alarm with in house alerts.

 

[zea3]

I wonder if you put in wedding cake steps instead if that would be ok.

 

[JimMarshall]

When you say "the worker", you mean the caseworker?

 

[Mdragger88]

I have a similar set up but with a railing& fence w/ self locking gate around the pool area as well as wedding cake steps. The parts of my pool with no deck/fence are high enough (over 48”) so that counts as a barrier for me. Eliminating the need for removable stairs.
Perhaps you could do the same just on that pool deck area. Is the back of your pool rail 4ft off the ground?

 

[Mdragger88]

Here’s the “from the house” view

 

[Mdragger88]

In Tennessee my aunt is the foster for her grandchildren & she had to have a pool water alarm like this as well