Media information

April 7, 2014

DHF PGG issues gate maintenance warning following prosecution

The UK powered gate industry is urging owners and managers of electric gates to make sure they are inspected and maintained correctly to ensure they meet current safety standards

The urgent warning from the DHF Powered Gate Group follows the prosecution of two gate companies on Friday, April 4 for health and safety breaches that resulted in the death of Karolina Golabek (5) who was crushed by a gate. The two companies who were responsible for maintaining the gates pleaded guilty and will be sentenced in June. The court heard that the gates had been inadequately installed back in 2006 and modified at least twice since then.

The PGG says current industry practice demands that a maintenance company must measure the moving force of the gate at every maintenance visit. If the force of the gate is too strong and poses a danger, the engineer should switch off the gate motor, issue a warning letter to the gate owner and affix a "danger" notice to the gate.

Said Andy Holz, the Group's chairman: "This tragic accident happened in 2010. It was one of a number of accidents that prompted us, with encouragement from the Health & Safety Executive, to set up our Powered Gate Group in order to raise automated gate safety standards.

"More than two thirds of all automated gates installed in the UK before the recent tragedies do not comply with legislation and so pose a serious safety risk. This is why our members will not maintain unsafe gates, but will instead carry out a thorough hazard assessment that will include force test checks on the installed gate. This vital element of assessment will determine what safety modifications need to be added to the gate to bring it up to the current standards."

PGG requires that all gates are comprehensively force tested as part of the installation process and then re-tested at every service visit.

He pointed out that the PGG is the only powered gate industry body to insist that these safety checks and risk assessments are carried out at each and every maintenance visit. Its policy of issuing warning letters and danger notices when unsafe gates have been found has been operating successfully for more than a year. Its insistence on identifying dangerous gates has resulted in many earlier installations being brought up to current safety levels.

The PGG now has more than 65 members who are the leading UK and European manufacturers, suppliers, installers and maintainers of powered gates and gate automation equipment. More than 100 installers have successfully completed the PGG's industry-leading two-day training course. This number is set to double during 2014.

Added Andy Holz: "Before the tragic death of Karolina in 2010, there was no single industry body devoted to setting these vital safety standards for gate installation and maintenance. The industry has achieved so much since with the development of safe installation guidelines and the most stringent training course of its type in Europe. We're determined to eradicate unsafe and inadequate installation and maintenance practices to help ensure that tragedies like this one never happen again."

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Note to editors: The PGG is part of DHF, which 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