The Health & Safety Executive (HSE) is the latest to put its weight behind Gate Safety Week which runs from October 10 to 16. The campaign is being organised by the trade body the DHF (Door & Hardware Federation). The aim; to focus attention on the dangers posed by badly installed and poorly maintained automated gates.
The DHF representings suppliers, installers and maintainers of powered gates, traffic barriers and powered access control automation equipment.
Philip White, HSE head of operational strategy, said: “HSE supports Gate Safety Week 2016, the DHF and all those involved in ensuring the safety of powered (automatic) gates. By working together in the design, manufacture, installation and maintenance of safe powered gates, we can reduce the risk or people being hurt.”
HSE joins the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA), British Safety Council, NHBC, National Security Inspectorate (NSI) and others in the security, enforcement, inspection, education and safety sectors who are lending their support.
The year 2016 saw the launch of a new industry code of practice designed to reduce the safety risks associated with powered gates and traffic barriers to as low as is reasonably practicable. All DHF members must abide by the Code of Practice for the Design, Manufacture, Installation and Maintenance of Powered Gates and Traffic Barriers (DHF TS 011:2016) which provides a framework to ensure a gate is safe and therefore complies with the law.
NSI is using DHF TS 011:2016 to audit installers and maintainers in its new powered gates certification scheme. NSI, the UKAS-accredited certification and inspection body which audits security and safety providers, hopes to announce the first accredited companies under its scheme at Fencex, the perimeter security and access control exhibition, on Wednesday, October 12. To mark Gate Safety Week at the exhibition, DHF will be exhibiting on Stand 52 and will be spreading the word on powered gate safety with the slogan Safe Gates Save Lives.
DHF training officer Nick Perkins, pictured, will be undertaking a Q&A session on gate safety at Fencex. This will be followed by an “open surgery”, again with Nick offering his thoughts.
Visit www.gatesafetyweek.org.uk.
