Door Industry Journal - Summer 2019

THE door industry journal summer 2019 Also online at: www.dijonline.co.uk OPEN DOORS Banging the Training Drum……Again Following on from the tragic death in August 2016 when a woman was killed in an industrial door accident, a Cambridgeshire based electrical company, who carried out the maintenance, has recently been fined £25,000 and ordered to pay costs of £6500. Sadly, it was another death that could have been avoided if the safety devices had been working correctly and had been properly checked when the door was inspected a month before the accident. So, what should industrial door installers and maintenance companies learn from this tragedy? Clearly the starting point is that the products themselves must be manufactured to the right standards and the installation companies should employ properly trained site supervisors and installers. But it goes further than that-it is vital that industrial and garage doors (and automatic gates) are routinely serviced and inspected to ensure that not only are the safety devices fitted but importantly that they are functioning correctly. The Health and Safety Executive Inspector, Graeme Warden, described the accident as ‘one that could have been avoided’ and highlighted the lack of appropriate training at the electrical company as being a major contributory factor. Yes, we would like all industrial door installers and maintenance companies to be dhf members. Realistically that is not likely to happen. But we will continue to bang the drum that those with ownership and management responsibilities should insist that their installation and maintenance contractors employ professionally trained staff. And of course all dhf training courses in doors and gates are open to both non-members and members. Bob Perry, dhf CEO A regular comment column, brought to you by Bob Perry, CEO, Door and Hardware Federation For more information, please visit www.dhfonline.org.uk Pickerings Lifts grows loading systems installation side of business with new Manchester office Pickerings Lifts is expanding the loading systems side of its business by opening an office in the North West of England. While Pickerings Lifts already offer lift maintenance, repair and installation services from their office in Manchester, they now also provide the supply and installation of loading systems products including dock levellers, goods scissor lifts and high-speed doors. Pickerings Lifts’ Loading Systems business stream was established in 2011, offering installation and maintenance services to supermarkets, warehouses and factories across the country, across a wide range of different industries. The Manchester office is Pickerings Lifts Loading Systems third dedicated office in the country, with the company already having a presence in Wakefield and Redditch. Their North West Loading Systems office is managed by Jason Tonge, who has over thirty years’ experience in supplying loading systems products, and supported by Deputy Project Manager Will Larbey. Together they have over thirty five years of experience in the industry. Jason said: “Pickerings Lifts has a great reputation for supplying high-quality loading systems products across the country. Our new office in the North West region will enable us to provide an even better service to our current and prospective customers.” The team are currently celebrating their new location by carrying a roll-out of replacement goods scissor lifts for a national supermarket chain. For more information about how our North West office can help with your requirements, please call 0161 703 8028 or visit www.pickeringslifts.co.uk