Gate safety campaigners have declared a week of urgent action, starting today, in a bid to dramatically improve the safety of automated gates in the UK. In recent years, three children and three adults have been killed in gate accidents, with more than 70% of the 500,000 automated gates currently in service in the UK, deemed to be unsafe to use.
The alarming statistics have led the Door & Hardware Federation Powered Gate Group (PGG) to announce that this week, October 12th – 18th, will be ‘Gate Safety Week’ – the second year that the high profile campaign has run. In the weeks leading up to the event, the Powered Gate Group and its 100 members – who comprise Britain’s leading manufacturers, suppliers, installers and maintainers of powered automatic gates and gate automation equipment – have been campaigning relentlessly to raise awareness of the dangers associated with poorly fitted and maintained powered gates.
In addition, the Powered Gate Group has just launched a petition in an attempt to have the law changed, as PGG Chairman, Neil Sampson, explains:
“Currently, those responsible for workplace powered gates can face criminal charges, should an accident or fatality occur as a result of a poor installation or maintenance, but this is not the case with domestic gates. We want to see the law changed, so that owners of unsafe domestic gates can also be prosecuted in the criminal courts.”
“Properly installed and maintained gates are perfectly safe to use, but we are acutely aware that unsafe installations are still being undertaken by uneducated installers and gate companies who, quite simply, are willing to take dangerous short cuts in both gate manufacture and installation. This illegal conduct absolutely must stop!” he said.
“Gate Safety Week 2014 was a resounding success and we are delighted to be running the campaign again this year in a bid to continue to engage, educate and encourage best practise and improved standards throughout our industry. Most importantly, it is hoped that through ‘Gate Safety Week’, accidents resulting from unsafe powered gates will become a thing of the past.”
To access and sign the petition, click here: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/109917
ENDS
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– Neil Sampson, Chairman of DHF’s Powered Gate Group
Notes to Editors:
The Powered Gate Group was set up by the Door and Hardware Federation (DHF) on behalf of the UK gate automation industry, with encouragement from the Health & Safety Executive, following the tragic deaths of two young children in accidents involving powered gates. It developed the DHF Guide to Powered Gate Safety, which has been endorsed by the HSE, and is followed by all responsible automatic gate installers.
In addition, the Powered Gate Group has set up the powered gate safety diploma course which covers all aspects of safe gate installation. Recognised as the most stringent gate safety training course in Europe, it is open to both DHF member and non-member installers and gate inspectors.
Gate Safety Week takes place from the 12th – 18th October 2015. The aim of Gate Safety Week is to raise awareness of the risks of accidents surrounding powered and automated gates and how they can be prevented. The Gate Safety Week website – gatesafetyweek.org.uk – has been set up to provide a range of resources to help the public, practitioners and professionals understand the risks and dangers around powered gates as well as promoting safety messages in an engaging way that can be understood.
Gate Safety Week is aimed at everyone from professional installers, through to facilities managers, schools, housing associations, safety organisations and the general public.
For further information, please visit gatesafetyweek.org.uk