GATE SAFETY WEEK : 13 – 19 OCTOBER 2014GUIDANCE FOR COMMERCIAL POWERED GATE OWNERS & INDUSTRY STAKEHOLDERSKEEPING THE NATION SAFE

How companies, facilities managers, architects & regulatory bodies can

get involved

DID YOU KNOW…?

• The safety of powered gates is required by law

• Gates must be installed strictly in accordance with legal requirements

• To keep them safe, gates need to be regularly maintained in a safe condition by an apropriately trained and equipped individual or company

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

• Provide 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

COMMUNICATION CAMPAIGNWHAT ARE WE DOING?

• Dedicated URL promoting the campaign www.gatesafetyweek.co.uk

• Gathering support from influential industry bodies, trade associations and supporters

• Twitter / Facebook / LinkedIn – social media campaigns

• National and local events to raise awareness of gate safety

• Trade, national and local PR campaign

• Promoting the issue of gate safety at Fencex 2014 – 15 October

WHO’S INVOLVED IN GATE SAFETY WEEK

GateSafety WeekManufacturer

s & distributors

DHF Powered Gate Group members

Architects & specifiers

Building owners & facilities managers

Home owners & general public

Regulatory bodies

A QUICK GUIDE TO LEGISLATION

• The Supply of Machinery Safety Regulations require that new powered 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

• 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 companies do not leave powered gates in an unsafe condition

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

REPAIR AND MAINTENANCE POINTS TO NOTE ABOUT POWERED GATES

•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 DHF Powered Gate Group is the provider of the UK’s leading in depth gate safety training course. Find out more at -

www.dhfonline.org.uk•A dangerous powered gate should never be left in service:-

1. It should be switched off2. The owner should be informed in writing what is wrong3. The owner should be given a detailed written solution4. A warning notice should be fixed on the gate

MANUFACTURERS & DISTRIBUTORSYOUR RESPONSIBILITIES AROUND POWERED GATES

• Do all your drive units and control boards have a current “Declaration of Incorporation” under 2006/42/EC?

• Do all of your safety devices have a “Declaration of Conformity” to BS EN 12978?

• Do all your products have comprehensive and precise instructions?

• Are all your electrical devices CE marked under “Low Voltage” and “Electro Magnetic Compatibility” Directives?

• Can you supply adequate loading calculation data for hinges and rolling gear?

• Are your sales and specification staff adequately trained on current legislation?

ARCHITECTS & SPECIFIERSYOUR RESPONSIBILITIES AROUND POWERED GATES

• The safety of a powered gate starts at the design stage• Does your design eliminate as many hazards as possible….

□ Many sliding gate shear, draw, crush and impact risks are best controlled by fencing in

□ Swing gate hinges can be designed for “constant gap”□ Will safety devices spoil the aesthetic of your design?□ Have you designed in all required safety distances?

• Fully filled/boarded and palisade gates generate huge wind effects; have you calculated and specified to properly control these forces?

• Retro fitted safety can be very difficult to apply and often spoils the aesthetic; better to design in the safety at the start

• Do you understand the concepts of gate safety, legislation and device specification?

WHAT DO I NEED TO LOOK OUT FOR?

• Your new powered 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 edges or intelligent drive units)

• There should also be “light beams” 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• Getting a foot trapped under the gate should be prevented by either:-

rubber safety edges or a 120mm safety clearance or be flush with the ground such that a child’s foot cannot fit under the gate

• 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 POWERED 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 the safety devices actually work?

• Do you know how to switch it off?

• 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?

• Does your gate have a CE mark and a declaration of conformity?

• Do you have information about an residual hazards?

REMEMBER…..

Don’t chance it…just DHF it!

Click www.dhfonline.org.uk

Call 01827 52337