In this episode of Mondays Down Under, Lee and Shane take us behind the scenes of a massive Australian water theme park — and the conversation quickly turns from wave pools and plant rooms on steroids to something much more serious:
Safety.
From razor blades hidden in slide seams (yes, that actually happened) to real-world design flaws causing injuries, this episode dives deep into the responsibility that comes with running aquatic facilities — whether it’s a multi-million-dollar water park or your own pool service business.
Lee shares her experience training maintenance staff at a high-risk commercial water park facility in New South Wales, including:
She explains how commercial aquatic operations in Australia are tiered under state health guidelines — and why every service professional should understand the compliance responsibilities of the facilities they work with.
🩸 The Razor Blade Incident (1980s Water Park Case)
Lee recounts a chilling true story from the 1980s where razor blades were inserted into the seams of a waterslide, seriously injuring a child. Once thought to be folklore — it wasn’t.
The takeaway?
Daily inspections are not optional. Vigilance is non-negotiable.
🍺 When Safety Gets Awkward
Shane shares a recent experience where a client repeatedly offered him beer while he was on the job. That sparks a broader discussion about:
Your team doesn’t see nuance. They see behavior.
And monkey see, monkey do.
🦺 PPE: If You Don’t Wear It, Neither Will They
The conversation turns to Personal Protective Equipment and workplace standards.
Topics covered:
Lee emphasizes something critical:
If your staff see you skipping PPE, every toolbox talk you’ve ever given becomes meaningless.
🚨 Safety Audit Checklist for Pool Pros
This episode challenges business owners to ask:
And perhaps most importantly:
Are you leading by example?
🎙️ Also in This Episode
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Email us: talkingpools@gmail.com
