Media information

 October 7, 2015

HSE adds its weight to powered gate safety campaign

The Health & Safety Executive (HSE) is the latest safety organisation to give its backing to a growing campaign to make unsafe automated gates a thing of the past.

They have joined Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA), British Safety Industry Federation and British Safety Council who have all put their weight behind Gate Safety Week (October 12 - 18www.gatesafetyweek.org.uk).

The campaign is being organised by the Door & Hardware Federation (DHF) Powered Gate Group in a bid to dramatically improve the safety of automated gates in the UK.The DHF Powered Gate Group comprises Britain's leading manufacturers, suppliers, installers and maintainers of powered gates and gate automation equipment.

In recent years, three children and three adults have been killed in powered gateaccidents. It is estimated there are more than 500,000 automated gates in service in the UK, yet the industry says just 30 per cent of these are safe to use.

Karen Clayton, is deputy director of HSE's Engagement and Strategic Interventions Directorate. She said:

"HSE supports Gate Safety Week, DHF and all those involved in ensuring the safety of powered (automatic) gates. Working together, we can reduce the risk of people being hurt by powered gates by designing, manufacturing, installing and maintaining gates which are safe."

And she urges all those involved with powered gates to read and act on the useful advice provided by HSE:http://www.hse.gov.uk/work-equipment-machinery/powered-gates/introduction.htm.

There is additional comprehensive guidance for safety professionals, gate owners and all those responsible for specifying, managing and maintaining automatic gates on the Gate Safety Week website (www.gatesafetyweek.org.uk). This includes information on safety legislation and a detailed rundown of the safety features to look for on a powered gate.

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Note to editors: The DHF Powered Gate Group is a collective of the UK's premier gate installation companies and the major automation equipment suppliers who work together to provide state of the art technology in safe and reliable installations. The Door & Hardware Federation (DHF) represents all the key players in the following sectors: powered gates, industrial/commercial doors, garage doors, metal & timber doorsets and locks & architectural hardware. With the ultimate aim of maintaining and raising quality standards throughout the industry, all DHF members must meet minimum standards of competence and customer service.

Issued on behalf of the DHF by

Ainsworth Public Relations

0161 427 3861

guy@ainsworth-pr.co.uk

Door & Hardware Federation

01827 52337

www.dhfonline.org.uk