Regulations to improve basketball ring safety

19/6/05
Basketball rings and backboards are likely to be sold with a mandatory safety warning under national regulations in whose development Western Australia has played a major part.
Consumer and Employment Protection Minister John Kobelke said the guidelines would see basketball hoops sold with advice about the safety risks in swinging on them or not installing them correctly.
Mr Kobelke said the draft rules were expected to be released for public comment throughout the country this week.
He said the initiative followed a tragic incident involving young Perth boy Terry Vo, who had both hands and a foot severed after playing on a backyard basketball hoop.
There had also been at least three deaths across the country associated with basketball rings and backboards.
The Minister said the national regulations had been developed by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission in consultation with the States and territories.
"After the terrible injuries to Terry Vo, the Western Australian Consumer Product Safety Committee looked into the cause of the incidents here and in other States to see what could be done to prevent reoccurrences," he said.
"This research was passed on to the ACCC for use in the development of the regulations and WA, through the Department of Consumer and Employment Protection, has provided feedback on an early draft of the guidelines ready for their release now.
"The national regulations are likely to follow the Victorian model where basketball rings and backboards must be sold with a warning label.
"The label includes a safety symbol and wording stating that improper installation or swinging on the ring may cause serious injury or death."
Mr Kobelke said the ACCC would release the draft regulations for public and industry consultation.
"Once the regulations have been passed by the States and territories, the ACCC will run a public education campaign about them, targeting home owners with existing rings and emphasising the importance of correct installation," he said.
The Minister said the draft rules and information about how the community could provide feedback on them would be available of the ACCC soon at http://www.accc.gov.au
Minister's office: 9222 9211