Despite the tragic deaths of two children last year in separate accidents*, a new survey suggests there is a substantial risk of history repeating itself given the number of ‘unsafe’ automated gates which remain in service. Brian Sims reports.
The survey, which was conducted by Gate Safe – the national safety campaign spearheaded by Jacksons Fencing and supported by RoSPA and the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health – shows that a massive 88% of the gates surveyed failed to comply with current HSE guidelines in relation to the inclusion of recommended features/procedures designed to reduce the risk of injury.
Combine this fact with the worrying statistic that 51% of respondents advised that the general public and children are likely to use or play by their gate and the chances of another accident occurring become an alarming possibility.
The survey also showed that:
- 65% of respondents claim pedestrians are expected to use the gate as a means of access, yet only 47% provide the recommended alternative segregated pedestrian access
- 53% of respondents said that they could not stop the gate manually when it was closing, so in the event of an emergency the gate could not be manually stopped
- 59% of respondents advised that their gates were not fitted with the recommended safety edges
- 35% of respondents admitted to not having a regular service agreement in place to ensure the ongoing safety of the automatic gate
Worryingly high level of risk
Commenting on the survey, Gate Safe Steering Group chairman Richard Jackson said: “These findings indicate that a worryingly high level of risk exists of yet another automated gate accident occurring, or even worse a fatality. In particular, we’re concerned that such a high proportion of respondents have failed to act on the advice given by the Health and Safety Executive and backed by our campaign, demonstrating that more needs to be done to improve the communication of key automated gate safety messages.”
Jackson continued: “Also, it’s rather alarming to note that so many gate installations are not regularly serviced, meaning that even if gate safety features exist, there is a chance that they will not be fully operational.”
The Gate Safe campaign is pushing for improved standards in gate automation and will continue to strive to educate and raise awareness amongst anybody and everybody involved in the installation/lifespan of an automated gate.
The Health and Safety Executive has commended the campaign which is unique in that it represents, for the first time, a concerted programme of activity which targets representatives from a cross-section of companies/organisations with the aim of initiating a unique 3600 awareness/education programme which targets not just the installer but everyone involved (including the specifier, manufacturer, constructor/contractor and, ultimately, the installer involved in an automatic gate installation).
“We are currently in the process of finalising a CPD module for architects which focuses on the key factors affecting automated gate safety,” added Jaskson.
“We hope to roll this out with the RIBA’s approval this year. We then plan to use this CPD as the basis for an education tool for other industry sectors involved in the automated gate industry.”
The next Gate Safe Steering Group meeting takes place on 15 April.
For further details of the Gate Safe campaign visit the website (which includes a Gate Safe check list)… a dedicated link is provided on the right hand panel of this page
*In addition to the two fatalities in 2010, a further three accidents involving children becoming trapped in automated gates have been reported, with the victims narrowly escaping serious injury