GATE SAFETY WEEK : 13 -19 OCTOBER 2014GUIDANCE FOR HOMEOWNERS AND THE GENERAL PUBLICKEEPING THE NATION SAFE

A guide to keeping safe around powered gates

WHAT IS GATE SAFETY WEEK?

A gate is just a gate. Right?

No, a powered gate is a machine that must be installed correctly and regularly maintained for optimum safety and security.

Powered gates are more and more frequently becoming part of the design of commercial, public and multiple occupancy buildings. Unfortunately though, the industry is facing problems with poorly installed and maintained gates leading to accidents and, sadly, fatalities, including children.

WHAT IS GATE SAFETY WEEK?

Corners are being cut and many installers are still not aware of their legal obligations.

Gate Safety Week is being organised d to raise awareness of proper awareness proper installation and maintenance of powered gates and to help prevent further accidents.

KEY MESSAGES OF THE CAMPAIGN

• To make members of the public and users of automated gates aware of the risks and dangers

• To inform members of the public about what to do if they know of an unsafe gate OR how to get their own gates properly installed or checked

• To make sure installers, maintenance companies and gate owners are aware that the safety of powered gates is required by law!

GATES ARE NOT TOYS!

• In recent years, 3 children and 3 adults have been killed by dangerous gates

• There have been many serious injuries and near misses

• There continues to be a lack of awareness and knowledge of safety in the industry

• There are countless dangerous gates still in service today, even at school entrances

• If somebody gets injured by a gate, the owner could be liable

Properly installed and maintained powered gates are perfectly safe to use

BE AWARE OF THE DANGERS!

• A powered gate is a machine - and like any machine, it poses potential risks to children and adults alike

• Powered gates can be found at schools and other public buildings. Increasingly, parents are having powered gates installed at the end of their driveways at home

• Responsible parents should warn their children that gates are not play equipment

• Parents can do more: If they have automatic driveway gates at home, get them checked for safety and ensure they are maintained by a qualified gate company. Contact the DHF to help find a company locally on 01827 52337

• If you know of any gates to which youngsters might have access - at school, for instance - ask staff if the gates have been checked recently for safety

6 THINGS TO LOOK OUT FOR

1. Your new powered gate should come with a “Declaration of Conformity” and be CE marked

2. Automatic gates should be protected by “touch sensitive” control (either by rubber safety edges or intelligent drive units) that will cause the gate to retract if it encounters an obstacle.

3. There should also be “light beams” across the entrance as a backup measure

Light beams should never be the sole protection measure – unless they form multi beam curtaining that prevents all possible access to the moving gate

4. The hinge area should be protected by:-

flexible guards or rubber safety edges or have “constant gap” hinges

5. Getting a foot trapped under the gate should be prevented by either:-

rubber safety edges or a 120mm safety clearance or be flush with the ground such that a child’s foot cannot fit under the gate

6. Where a gate creates a shearing hazard as it passes a fixed support element, wall or fence (very common with a sliding gate), there should be rubber safety edges or fencing to prevent access to the dangerous movement

HOW CAN YOU REPORT A PROBLEM?

If it is your gate, contact us on 01827 52337 or e mail info@dhfonline.org.uk and we will locate a DHF Powered Gate Group trained installation company who will safety check the gate for you

HOW CAN YOU REPORT A PROBLEM?

• If the gate is at a school, contact the school directly and refer them to Gate Safety Week or DHF immediately

• If the gate is at a workplace, public building or residential complex, contact the owner or managing agent directly and refer them to Gate Safety Week or DHF

(We can find them an installer to check out the gate)

DOs and DON’Ts TO STAY SAFE

Do

•Get gates checked out by a DHF Powered Gate Group company

•Keep small children away from moving gates

•Check all safety devices regularly

•Get them regularly maintained

Don’t

•Allow small children to play or ride on a powered gate

•Ignore the need for regular maintenance

•Put off getting a gate checked out

•Use non specialist tradesmen to do work on a gate

REMEMBER…..

Don’t chance it…just DHF

it!

Click www.dhfonline.org.uk

Call 01827 52337