An estimated half a million automated gates are in service in the UK – yet as few as 10 per cent of these are safe to use. So say safety campaigners behind a week of action to raise awareness of the dangers posed by poorly installed and maintained automated gates. Gate Safety Week (www.gatesafetyweek.org.uk) runs from October 13 to 19.
Automated gates are in use at workplaces, homes and schools. But in recent years, six people have been killed in dangerous gate accidents, including three children.
Neil Sampson is chairman of the Door & Hardware Federation Powered Gate Group, the organisers of Gate Safety Week. He said: “There is a deeply worrying lack of knowledge among users, owners and installers about the dangers presented by gates that have not been installed or maintained correctly.”
A video shows the importance of having automated gates checked for safety. Safety figures interviewed for the video urge all those responsible for automated gates to have a risk assessment carried out by a qualified and trained technician. This must include a measurement of the moving force of the gate and the provision of documentation to show the gate is safe.
The video details the various safety measures to ensure the gate does not present a danger. These include safety edges, guards and presence detection. The video can be downloaded from the Gate Safety Week website, www.gatesafetyweek.org.uk.
Neil Sampson said: “It is estimated there are more than half a million automated gates installed in the UK, and nine out of ten of these are potentially unsafe. We are determined to do everything we can to ensure that no more tragic accidents are caused by unsatisfactory electric gates.
“The message of Gate Safety Week is clear: a correctly installed and maintained automated gate is perfectly safe to use. So it’s vital to have automated gates checked for safety. Visit our website to watch the video and to find a qualified installer who can carry out safety checks. Or ring the gate safety hotline 01827 52337 to find your nearest installer. Let’s all work together to bring about a dramatic increase in automated gate safety.”
