Gate Safe working together with IOSH to raise awareness for improved standards in gate automation
Gate Safe, the national safety campaign which was set up in the wake of the tragic deaths of two children last year in separate automated gate accidents, is to work with the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) in a series of initiatives designed to communicate the importance of automated gate safety amongst safety officers and professionals involved in the automated gate installation process.
Gate Safe has always championed the need for a concerted programme of activity which targets representatives from a cross section of companies / organisations with the aim of initiating a 3600 awareness / education programme for everyone involved in an automatic gate installation including the specifier, manufacturer / constructor, contractor and ultimately the installer. By joining forces with IOSH, Europe’s leading body for individuals with a professional involvement in occupational safety and health, it is hoped that the issue of automated gates will move higher up the safety agenda and in particular, will achieve broader recognition from the architect, construction and surveyor business community.
Gate Safe and IOSH will be combining forces at a number of industry networking events, with the aim of educating a cross section of professionals on standards of best practice in relation to a safe automated gate installation. Gate Safe has already developed a comprehensive CPD which will form the basis of all presentations and which will also be available as a download from the Gate Safe web site. At present Gate Safe will be attending the following events with further activities planned for later in the year:
- IOSH Humberside Branch Event 3rd August (North Ferriby, near Hull)
- RIBA CPD Roadshow London, 8th September (RIBA, London)
- Retail & Construction Networking Event 22nd September (Barceló Daventry Hotel)
- IOSH Isle of Man Construction Group Safety Seminar, 11th October
Gate Safe has already achieved significant success in working to raise awareness of the need to improve standards in gate automation. The campaign has been commended by the HSE for its efforts to date, which include the hosting of the first ever Gate Safety Summit; taking a petition to Downing Street; undertaking surveys to underpin the high level of risk of an automated gate accident reoccurring; launching the comprehensive Gate Safe web site and undertaking a focused PR campaign. Gate Safe will continue to support the excellent work of the Door & Hardware Federation, which has taken responsibility for the development of technical guidelines in relation to the installation of automated gates.