If you have young children or pets at home, pool removal presents specific safety planning challenges that deserve attention before demolition day arrives. The job itself is inherently hazardous, heavy machinery, deep excavations, broken concrete and construction site conditions exist in your backyard for 1-3 days. Getting your household management right during this period is as important as any other part of the project. This guide covers the practical safety measures and temporary arrangements that Hunter-region homeowners with children or pets should put in place.
Quick answer (BLUF)
The safest approach is to arrange for children and pets to be away from the property during demolition day (and the day after if backfill continues). The job site is genuinely dangerous for children and animals. Temporary arrangements, staying with family, doggy daycare, school, are the simplest and most effective safety measure. On-site fencing of the active demolition zone is the next-best option.
Why the demolition phase is the highest-risk period
During the pool demolition phase:
- A hydraulic rock breaker generates flying concrete fragments, which can travel metres from the impact point
- An excavator operating in a residential backyard has limited visibility, the operator cannot always see a child or animal that has entered the work zone
- Broken concrete and reinforcement steel create fall and laceration hazards throughout the site
- The pool void, an open excavation of 1.5-2.5m depth, is an immediate entrapment hazard if a child falls in
This is not desk-research risk assessment. These are recognised hazards that experienced contractors are aware of. A reputable pool removal contractor in Newcastle will brief you on site access restrictions and their own WHS obligations before starting work.
For households with young children
Best option: keep children away from the property on demolition day. Arrange for them to be at school, at grandparents, at friends, or anywhere that is clearly off-site. This is the zero-ambiguity approach. Two days of disruption to your family’s routine is manageable.
If children must be home: The house itself is safe, the work is in the backyard. Ensure:
- All doors, gates and windows providing access to the backyard are locked and the children understand they must not go outside
- The youngest children are under constant adult supervision
- The contractor has erected temporary construction fencing across the backyard access point before equipment enters
Brief your contractor: tell them you have young children at home and ask them to:
- Ensure the backyard gate or access point is secured when not actively being used for equipment movement
- Brief their operator on the household situation
After demolition day: The open excavation (before backfill is complete) is the other significant hazard. A 2m-deep trench in your backyard is dangerous for children even after the noisy work is over. The contractor should either:
- Complete backfill the same day as demolition, or
- Erect temporary fencing around the open void before leaving site for the night
Ask about this specifically during your pre-job conversation.
For households with pets
Dogs: The noise and vibration of pool demolition is severely stressful for most dogs. A rock breaker on a concrete pool shell produces sustained noise at 85-95 dB, roughly equivalent to standing next to a running chainsaw. Beyond welfare concerns, a stressed dog that escapes into the work zone is a serious safety hazard for itself and the operator.
Arrange for your dog to be:
- At a doggy daycare facility (most Newcastle inner suburbs have local dog care options)
- With a neighbour or family member for the day
- Inside the house with radio/TV noise to partially mask the demolition sound
If your dog is kennelled in the backyard, ensure the kennel is moved to the front yard or inside before work starts. Do not assume your dog will stay away from the work zone, they won’t.
Cats: Cats will typically self-relocate away from the noise. However, ensure your cat is not in the backyard at the start of work, a cat hiding under a deck or in the pool equipment cabinet that is demolished may be injured. Do a thorough backyard check before work starts.
Small animals in outdoor enclosures (rabbits, guinea pigs, poultry): Move these well away from the demolition zone the evening before. The vibration from rock breaking transmits through the ground and can cause distress and injury to small animals even some distance away.
Preparing the property before demolition day
Our guide to preparing your property for pool removal day covers the full preparation checklist, but the child and pet-specific items include:
- Move all outdoor toys, play equipment and trampoline out of the work zone
- Remove or secure the sandpit (pool sand and demolition debris should not mix)
- Clear the path to the backyard of any obstacles, the contractor needs clear access
- Ensure the washing line and any low-hanging structures are clear of the excavator reach
During the works: communication with the contractor
On demolition day, introduce yourself to the site operator before work begins. A 5-minute conversation establishes:
- That you have children/pets and where they will be
- That the backyard gate must be kept secured
- Your contact number if anything needs to be communicated during the day
Most experienced Hunter-region pool removal contractors have done this work on hundreds of family homes and are very aware of these dynamics. You won’t need to convince them, they’ll appreciate the communication.
After the pool is filled: ongoing safety
Once backfill is complete and the pool is gone, the safety calculus changes dramatically for the better. The primary drowning hazard (the pool itself) is eliminated. The backyard is restored to a flat, safe play space. Newly laid turf or soil should be kept moist but is otherwise safe for children and pets to use within a day or two of completion.
FAQs
My contractor said children and pets should be off-site, is that an overreaction?
No, it’s standard and sensible advice from a WHS perspective. The contractor has a duty of care under NSW Work Health and Safety Act 2011 to manage the safety of all people who may be affected by their work. Excluding non-essential people from the work zone is a basic control measure. Follow the advice.
How long after pool removal can my dog go in the backyard?
Once the contractor has backfilled and levelled the area, the site is safe for general access. Dogs should be kept off fresh turf for 2-3 weeks (to allow the grass to establish) but the soil/gravel surface is safe immediately. Remove any small concrete fragments from the surface before children and pets access the area.
Can the contractor fence off the work zone while the family stays at home?
Yes. A temporary heras-style fence panel across the access point to the backyard provides a physical barrier between the work zone and the rest of the property. Some contractors include this as standard; others charge a small additional cost. This is a worthwhile expense if keeping children off-site is not practical.