Media information

August 29, 2014

Stuart Charles will join safety campaigners during Gate Safety Week

The Health & Safety Executive Inspector who led the investigation into the tragic death of a child in a South Wales automated gate accident will be playing an important role in a major national safety initiative.

Stuart Charles is to be the keynote speaker at an event being held during Gate Safety Week (October 13 - 19www.gatesafetyweek.org.uk).

Safety campaigners from the Door & Hardware Federation launched Gate Safety Week to alert the public to the dangers posed by poorly installed and maintained gates. In recent years three children and three adults have been killed in gate accidents and there have been many other serious injuries caused by unsafe gates.

"As an industry we're determined to do everything we can to ensure tragic accidents like this do not happen again," said Neil Sampson, chairman of the Door & Hardware Federation Powered Gate Group which is running Gate Safety Week.

"In the run up to Gate Safety Week we're partnering with a number of influential organisations in the safety, enforcement, inspection, education and security sectors who will be lending their support to the campaign.

"We're delighted that Stuart Charles has agreed to speak at the conference."

Safety and security specialists, gate manufacturers, installers and gate specifiers will be amongst delegates to benefit from the seminar which is being held at Fencex, the fencing industry exhibition at Stoneleigh Exhibition Park, near Coventry, on Wednesday October 15.

His presentation will major on the accident in South Wales where five-year-old Karolina Golabek tragically died after being crushed between the closing edge of the gate and the gate post. The two gate companies involved in the repair and maintenance were found guilty of serious safety failings and were heavily fined.

There will be a question and answer session following the seminar.

Britain's leading manufacturers, suppliers, installers and maintainers of powered automatic gates and gate automation equipment, who make up the DHF Powered Gate Group, are supporting Gate Safety Week. For more information visitwww.gatesafetyweek.org.uk.

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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