Gate Safety

​

DID YOU KNOW … ?

• The safety of powered gates is required by law

• Gates must be installed strictly in accordance with legal requirements

• Gates need to be regularly maintained in a safe condition by an appropriately trained and equipped company.

• In the last 10 years, 3 adults and 3 children have been killed by dangerous powered gates

• There have been countless serious injuries and near misses

CORNERS ARE STILL BEING CUT

• There is still a severe lack of awareness and knowledge of safety in the industry

• There are countless dangerous gates still in service today

• If you have a powered gate and someone gets injured by it, you could be liable!

PROPERLY INSTALLED AND MAINTAINED POWERED GATES ARE PERFECTLY SAFE TO USE!

WHY GATE SAFETY WEEK?

• To encourage users & owners to get powered gates checked by a qualified expert

• To create awareness around the installation and maintenance of powered gates drawing attention to specific issues such as poor installation and maintenance

• A neutral platform for organisations with common interests in the powered gates and powered gate industries

• To engage and educate ….
  Specifiers, Merchants, Installers, Inspectors, Surveyors and Users in the correct specification, supply, installation & operation of powered gates

A QUICK GUIDE TO LEGISLATION

• The Supply of Machinery Safety Regulations require that new poered gates are safe and should be supplied with a Declaration of Conformity and a CE mark

• The Workplace Regulations require that powered gates in a workplace must be maintained in a safe condition

• All gate owners or responsible persons risk litigation for negligence if their gate is not maintained in a safe condition

• The Health and Safety at Work Act requires that landlords and managing agents maintain their powered gates in a safe condition

• The Health and Safety at Work Act also requires that installers and maintenance cmpanies do not leave powered gates in an unsafe condition

In all cases, a safe gate is one that has all risks adequately controlled – the key to a safe gate is “Risk Assessment” by a trained and experience industry expert

REPAIR AND MAINTENANCE

• Maintenance and repair companies should NOT leave unsafe gates in service

• Whenever work is done on a powered gate it MUST be safe afterwards

• Installers should be properly trained and equipped

The SCS Gate Automation Team all have Diploma’s on gate safety!

A dangerous powered gate should never be left in service:

• It should be switched off or otherwise secured

• The owner should be informed in writing what is wrong

• The owner should be given a detailed written solution

• A warning notice should be fixed on the gate

WHAT YOU NEED TO LOOK OUT FOR?

• Your gate should come with a “Declaration of Conformity” and be CE marked

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

• There should also be “light beams” (Photocells) across the entrance as a backup measure

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

• The hinge area should be protected by flexible guards or rubber safety edges or have “constant gap” hinges

• The lower edge of swing gate should be protected by safe edge or intelligent drive

• 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

BUILDING OWNERS / FACILITIES MANAGERS
Things to check on your Gates

• When was the last time the gate was properly serviced?

• Are all potential hazards adequately controlled, are you sure it is safe? many are not

• Do you know how to release it during a power cut?

• Is the person who looks after it properly qualified and equipped?

• Do you have user instructions?

• Do the safety devices actually work?

• Do you know how to switch it off?

• Do you have a declaration of conformity?

• Do you have information about any residual hazards?

REMEMBER DON’T CHANCE IT

 

CALL US NOW  TO ARRANGE EITHER A MAINTENANCE CONTRACT OR A ONE OFF SERVICE & RISK ASSESSMENT!