News Release issued by
the COI News Distribution Service on 02 September 2010
Installers,
designers, maintenance firms and manufacturers of electric gates,
are being urged to seriously consider new safety advice issued by
the Health and Safety Executive today, following the recent deaths
of two children involving these gates.
The safety alert points out that limiting the closing forces of
gates alone will not provide sufficient protection to meet the
relevant standards, and installers must fit additional safeguards
to gates in public areas.
HSE's Director of Field Operations, David Ashton, said:
"Electric or automatic gates are designed to stop if
someone gets in the way, and installers and those maintaining
these gates have a real duty to ensure this happens.
"They must take their responsibilities seriously to make
sure that anti-crushing, shearing and trapping safety protection
devices are correctly set and maintained."
Today's alert follows a similar notice issued in
February this year reminding gate manufacturers and installers of
their safety responsibilities when designing, building and
installing electrically powered gates.
On 28 June this year, Semelia Campbell, 6, died when she was
crushed by electric gates in Manchester. A few days later on 3
July, Karolina Golabek, 5, was also crushed to death by electric
gates in Bridgend,South Wales.
While the police and HSE investigations continue into both
deaths, HSE does want to make it clear to installers that they
must take action to prevent pedestrians from becoming trapped in
electric gates.
David Ashton added:
"When manufacturing, designing or installing electric
gates, it's crucial to consider who will be in the area
when it's operating. If general public can access the
gate then additional protections should be in place.
"These protections can be in the form of creating safe
distances, installing fixed guards, limiting the forces or
installing sensitive protective equipment - among others."
HSE's advice today also reminds those in control of the
maintenance of electric gates to regularly review their risk
assessments, taking account of or any changes to the operating
conditions or environment.
ENDS
Notes to Editors
The new safety alert is available online at
http://www.hse.gov.uk/safetybulletins/electricgates2.htm The
Health and Safety Executive is Britain's national
regulator for workplace health and safety. It aims to prevent
death, injury and ill health. It does so through research,
information and advice,promoting training, new or revised
regulations and codes of practice,and working with local authority
partners by inspection, investigation and enforcement.
www.hse.gov.uk
Contacts:
COI Wales
Phone: 0300 123 1008
wales@coi.gsi.gov.uk
COI North West
Phone: 0161 618 1629
Fax: 0161 618 1150
manchester@coi.gsi.gov.uk
Robert Gage
robert.gage@coi.gsi.gov.uk
David Harris
Phone: 0161 618 1622
david.harris@coi.gsi.gov.uk