03/09/2010 01:27 PM
Urgent safety advice for all installers, designers, maintenance firms and manufacturers of electric and sliding gates has been issued by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), following two tragic deaths.
The alert notes that merely limiting the closing forces of sliding gates will not be sufficient enough to meet relevant safety standards. And, when gates are in public areas, installers must ensure "additional safeguards" are fitted.
In June this year a six-year-old girl died after being when crushed by electric gates. Just a few days later a five-year-old girl tragically suffered the same fate.
The HSE had issued a similar warning in February to remind manufacturers and installers of their responsibilities when it comes to the design, build and installation of electric gates.
It now says it wants to be clear that installers must take action to ensure people do not get stuck in automated gates.
The 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."
Mr Ashton added that a consideration of who will be close to electric gates when they are in operation should be at the forefront of manufacturers, designers and installers' minds. He suggested safeguards such as the creation of safe distances, fixed guards, limiting closing forces and installing protective equipment could all be employed.
The HSE also said regular reviews of electric gates should be conducted.
The Health and Safety Executive is Britain's national regulator for workplace health and safety.
The alert notes that merely limiting the closing forces of sliding gates will not be sufficient enough to meet relevant safety standards. And, when gates are in public areas, installers must ensure "additional safeguards" are fitted.
In June this year a six-year-old girl died after being when crushed by electric gates. Just a few days later a five-year-old girl tragically suffered the same fate.
The HSE had issued a similar warning in February to remind manufacturers and installers of their responsibilities when it comes to the design, build and installation of electric gates.
It now says it wants to be clear that installers must take action to ensure people do not get stuck in automated gates.
The 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."
Mr Ashton added that a consideration of who will be close to electric gates when they are in operation should be at the forefront of manufacturers, designers and installers' minds. He suggested safeguards such as the creation of safe distances, fixed guards, limiting closing forces and installing protective equipment could all be employed.
The HSE also said regular reviews of electric gates should be conducted.
The Health and Safety Executive is Britain's national regulator for workplace health and safety.
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