AESIF Online

The Director General ‘Mr John Birkett’

The Director General ‘Mr John Birkett’ has been in communications with the Health & Safety Executive,and the Department ‘Responsible for the gate and garage door industry here in the UK’. We can now confirm that the Machinery Directive that came into force on the 1st January 2010 is now Law in the United Kingdom and is fully enforceable MD2006/42/EC.

The HSE is planning to meet with AESIF and the industry within the next six months to find a hopeful solution in simplifying the Standards for installer and look at a Registry Scheme for gates and doors within the UK.

The HSE have also reminded AESIF of the importance of the Declaration of Conformity, which is required at the completion of automatic gate ways. All installer must declare that their gates meet with the Directive.

All installers must work to the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974 when carrying out works on site for clients i.e. individuals and companies.

Installers must carry out a full risk assessment at the site of the intended project, outlining the entrapment areas, and the companies intentions to reduce / minimise the risks in these areas, has in the design.

Provide a written quotation outlining the intention of works.

Provide a risk assessment detailed for the client, on commencement of works on site.

On completion of work you must supply all paperwork and certification to the new owner of the machine and issue a Declaration of Conformity.

Questions!

·                    My client is not interested in safety features to the inside of the home/ property. What should I do!

 

In short what do I need to know!

 

• Your quotation must and I stress must include within the design an inclusion for all safety required at the gate way, for all entrapment areas.

 

• The client must supply you with a written acknowledgment off your design, and include the intention, and request, for the removal of such internal safety to the Gate / door.

• Remember you can offer the automatic gates set as operator present i.e. Open / Close on remote controls, auto close must be disabled. Check BS EN Standards for operational use.

 

• A standard letter should be given to the client explaining that they have a duty under Health & Safety to the public; it should also inform them of their responsibility in informing person of the associated risks.

 

• If you wish to then continue with the contract the Declaration of Conformity should include your original design, and must also include within, the statement of the client’s intention to supervise internal safety at the site.

• Remember you will need to install a combination of safety edge and safety beam if the automatic gates don’t meet the BS EN Standards for force testing i.e. stop and back off when encountering obstacle detection in the entrapment area. Gates should no exceed 400N at the closing point this is the maximum force permitted.

All clients on commercial sites / properties have a duty for Health & Safety to the public and their employees, these types of gates / doors installations will require an induction course for visitors and employees at site, explaining in detail the dangers or risks, including  the use of warning notices. Work must comply with the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974.

• If the design safety is reduced internally at these types of gate way entrance, the HSE should be informed before commencement of works on site.

 

• The client must show good reason for the alteration of design.

 

• Work must not take place until all are satisfied, as to the Health & Safety for the users.

 

• The Declaration of Conformity will show the original design, with the Declaration from the client to reduce the internal safety, and there duty to inform of associated risks within the area at the site.

            

Finally those individual that fail to provide safety to the gate / door entrance way will be prosecuted by the HSE to the extent of the Law.

Aesif continues to advocate the use of Safety Beam, and Deformable Edges to all gate ways, as standard practace for an installation, in an effort to protect small children within metropolitan areas. 

Have your Say!

An open forum is planed for manufactures and installers comments on this site shortly, to discus these and other topics to help in moving the industry forward with the HSE, and will be invaluable information with your help.  

 

  

John Birkett

Director General AesiF