The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has urged suppliers and installers of powered gates to follow Door & Hardware Federation (DHF) safety guidance to avoid tragic accidents caused by incorrectly installed gates.
The call from the HSE was made following a court case where a Wiltshire company was fined £3,000 with £7,000 costs. The company had failed to install adequate safety devices on an electric gate that trapped a three year old boy at a primary school in Bournemouth.
The boy was trapped between the gate and the gate post, the court heard. He had to be physically pulled free, but escaped serious injury. Bystanders were able to push the gate open just enough to prevent it from closing completely.
Swindon magistrates heard how the company had fitted an electronic closing device to the metal vehicle gates at a Bournemouth school. However, they failed to fit safety devices which would have automatically stopped the gates from closing completely if it detected someone was in the way.
An investigation by the HSE found the gate automation equipment installed by the company did not meet essential safety requirements.
After the hearing, an HSE spokesman said the company
The call from the HSE was made following a court case where a Wiltshire company was fined £3,000 with £7,000 costs. The company had failed to install adequate safety devices on an electric gate that trapped a three year old boy at a primary school in Bournemouth.
The boy was trapped between the gate and the gate post, the court heard. He had to be physically pulled free, but escaped serious injury. Bystanders were able to push the gate open just enough to prevent it from closing completely.
Swindon magistrates heard how the company had fitted an electronic closing device to the metal vehicle gates at a Bournemouth school. However, they failed to fit safety devices which would have automatically stopped the gates from closing completely if it detected someone was in the way.
An investigation by the HSE found the gate automation equipment installed by the company did not meet essential safety requirements.
After the hearing, an HSE spokesman said the company
"failed to ensure that the equipment they supplied and installed was able to operate safely. They had a clear legal requirement in this regard. This was an easily preventable incident that could have had tragic consequences.
"I would encourage all suppliers and installers of electric gates to take a look at the free guidance available on the Door and Hardware Federation website which has been endorsed by HSE."
The DHF represents the UK’s leading manufacturers, installers and maintainers of automatic electric gates. It formed its specialist Powered Gate Group at the request of the HSE which was anxious to see an industry-wide trade body responsible for developing higher standards of safety for automated gates.
Comprehensive information and advice on the DHF website includes the DHF Guide to Gate Safety Legislation and Standards, a complete guide to powered gate safety that provides vital best practice technical guidance to the industry. This lists all the current published standards which govern powered gate performance and the design requirements that need to be followed to ensure every gate installation is safe. It guides manufacturers on the safe design, manufacture and installation of safe powered gates.
In addition to adhering to the DHF safety guide, member companies within the Powered Gate Group of the DHF send their installers - and their personnel responsible for assessment and inspection - on an intensive two day DHF Powered Gate Safety Diploma training course. It is a condition of DHF membership that all members supplying powered gates send their relevant personnel through the training course.
For more information on powered gate safety, visit www.dhfpoweredgategroup.co.uk.
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