Door Industry Journal - Summer 2017

Also online at: www.dijonline.co.uk THE door industry journal summer 2017 6 Support builds rapidly for dhf initiative, ‘Gate Safety Week’ With the dhf (Door & Hardware Federation) initiative, ‘Gate Safety Week’ around 10 weeks away, leading UK organisations have been quick to offer their support to the on-going safety campaign. The British Safety Council is the latest to put its weight behind the drive for safely installed and maintained automated gates. Gate Safety Week is a year-long campaign, now in its fourth year and will culminate in a week of activity from 9th – 15th October, with the objective to raise awareness about the dangers of unsafe gates, as well as how to spot a potentially dangerous gate and report it. Trade Association, dhf , represents the leading suppliers, installers and maintainers of powered gates, traffic barriers and powered access control automation equipment. The British Safety Council joins the British Safety Industry Federation, (BSIF), the Federation of Private Residents’ Landlords (FPRA), the Institute of Residential Property Management (IRPM) and many other influential organisations in the security, enforcement, inspection, education and safety sectors who are, once again, lending their support to Gate Safety Week. “The British Safety Council’s vision is that no-one should be injured or made ill at work. That is why we wholeheartedly support the 2017 Gate Safety Week campaign. We wish dhf every success in raising public awareness of the dangers associated with poorly fitted and maintained powered gates,” said Louise Ward, Director of Policy and Standards. The statistics behind the number of unsafe gates in operation across the UK is alarming. In recent years, there have been nine deaths in the UK and Ireland - six adults and three children – as well as several serious injuries and countless near misses in accidents involving badly installed and poorly maintained automated gates and barriers. With more than 500,000 automated gates believed to be in use, it is estimated that more than 70% are deemed unfit for purpose. But, progress is being made. The Gate Safety Week campaign has grown significantly since 2014 and through its training programme, Technical Specifications, and collaborative working, dhf has seen an encouraging improvement in the quality of gate installations as well as the knowledge of installers in the UK. For example, dhf members must abide by the Code of Practice for the Design, Manufacture, Installation and Maintenance of Powered Gates and Traffic Barriers ( dhf TS 011:2016) which provides a framework to ensure a gate is safe and therefore complies with the law. “With a little under six months to go before the climax of ‘Gate Safety Week’, we are delighted that so many industry heavyweights are backing our on-going crusade,” said dhf Chief Executive, Bob Perry. “We received a great deal of support for our 2016 campaign and are encouraged that, once again, key organisations such as the British Safety Council are adding further credence to Gate Safety Week and supporting our determination to ensure best practice and higher standards across the industry.” For further information about Gate Safety Week, please visit www.dhfonline.org.uk industry news feature