An appeal to ensure that all gates are safe to use has been issued by DHF following the recent death of a 49-year-old tradesman, who was killed when a timber gate fell on him at a residential address in Lincolnshire on 9 March.
DHF organises and promotes ‘Gate Safety Week’, which takes place each October, and is the climax to a long period of activity to raise gate safety standards and awareness primarily around automated gates.
However, Bob Perry, chief executive of DHF, explained it is vital that all gates are structurally sound, regularly maintained and inspected for safety on a regular basis.
“This is a tragic case and a further example of the dangers associated with all gates, whether they be automated or not. Structural failure is the cause of the majority of gate accidents, so it is essential that the highest standards of safety are maintained.
“The responsibility for gate safety lies with gate manufacturers, installers, owners, repairers and maintainers and this tragic accident is a further reminder of the fundamental need for regular inspection and testing of all gate installations. This year’s ‘Gate Safety Week’ campaign – an all year-round initiative – will once again highlight this key message.”
Now in its fourth year, ‘Gate Safety Week’ was launched by DHF to educate both the public and industry professionals on the dangers of poor installation and maintenance, as well as how to spot an unsafe gate and how to report it.
With this year’s appeal that ‘Safe gates Save Lives’, the campaign is growing progressively, with backing from organisations such as NSI, HSE, The British Safety Council and Gate Safe.
Automated gates are becoming a more common sight than ever on residential driveways, housing and apartment developments, but the safety statistics are extremely worrying.
In the past 11 years alone, six adults and three children have been killed in accidents caused by badly installed and poorly maintained automated gates and barriers in the UK and Ireland. And most alarmingly, it is estimated that a mere 30% of the 500,000 automated gates currently in service in the UK, are fit for purpose.
This year, ‘Gate Safety Week’ are focusing their efforts on gate safety within the school environment. “With automated gates now an increasingly popular choice for school and educational buildings, it is absolutely imperative that the strictest safety measures are upheld to protect our children, whilst in the care of others,” concludes DHF’s Marketing Manager, Patricia Sowsbery-Stevens.
