The urgent and overriding need for a stricter gate safety protocol was once again highlighted with news of another fatality following an accident involving a gate.

Ronald Hayward, a 42-year old delivery driver, became trapped underneath heavy metal gates as he tried to open them to reverse a lorry into the delivery yard of a cash and carry company.

The tragic incident occurred on 26 October in the Crindau area of Newport and, although four fire engines as well as the police and ambulance services were in attendance, Hayward was pronounced dead at the scene.

An investigation is being conducted by Gwent Police who are working alongside the Health and Safety Executive and Newport City Council’s own Health and Safety Department.

Hayward’s death represents the third fatality caused by heavy gates since January 2010, the tragic deaths of two children occurring within the space of two months.

New guidelines issues by Gate Safe campaign

The Gate Safe campaign was established by Jacksons Fencing in direct response to the two fatal accidents involving six-year old Semelia Campbell and five-year old Karolina Golabek in June and July 2010.

Since its inception, the campaign’s signatories have worked tirelessly to drive heightened recognition of the need for improved safety standards in gate automation.

The new guidelines that have just been launched represent the latest in a series of initiatives designed to enhance awareness of the critical factors which must be considered to ensure a safe and compliant automatic gate installation.

The Gate Safe Physical guidelines provide a comprehensive overview of key physical factors which may contribute to the overall safety of an automatic gate. They’re supported by pictorial references to illustrate each of the founding principles.

The Gate Safe Simple Checks guidelines, meanwhile, afford an easy-to-follow set of tests which can help to speedily identify whether or not an automatic gate complies with current safety recommendations.

Both sets of guidelines are accessible via the Gate Safe web site which has recently undergone a major revamp to broaden its appeal to all safety officers and professionals involved in the automated gate installation process.

Focus on raising awareness of the issues

Commenting on the new guidelines and updated web site, Richard Jackson (CEO at Jacksons Fencing) told Info4Security: “The Gate Safe campaign has always focused heavily on the need to raise awareness of gate automation safety, and to educate all those involved in the automated gate sector to ensure that there is compliance at every stage of the installation.”

Jackson stated: “Gate Safe aims to demystify the precautions that must be taken to ensure a safe – and, ultimately, legally compliant – electric gate. We will continue to refresh the information that’s available from the Gate Safe website to ensure that it features the very latest Best Practice guidelines, making it an essential reference source for anyone designing, manufacturing, specifying, installing or auditing an automated gate.”

He continued: “In addition to this we are working hard to encourage architects to further their understanding of automated gate safety issues by promoting Gate Safe Continuing Professional Development (CPD). This allows them to take advantage of the opportunity to access a presentation outlining the key safety considerations/precautions that need to be taken when installing an electric gate while at the same time gaining valuable learning points in their CPD journey towards improved competency.”

Gate Safety Summit in early 2012

The next key activity for Gate Safe will be the roll-out of a second Gate Safety Summit at the beginning of 2012.

In contrast to the first Gate Safety Summit, which was chaired by Peter Carroll (the mastermind behind the Gurkha Justice campaign), the purpose of this next event will be to educate rather than debate on the subject of safe gate automation.

A number of key guest speakers have been invited to participate in the Summit. Further details are due to be released before Christmas.

Following a brief survey carried out by the FIA into the Fire and Rescue Services (FRS) nationwide, the Association found that 12 FRS have modified their attendance due to false alarms.

Most brigades seem to have call challenging in place but other than the FRS’s listed below; they will still attend even if the fire can’t be verified by a phone call.

The following FRS’s have moved away from full attendance at Automatic Fire Alarm (AFA) signals from commercial premises: This information is available publically on the FRS websites

Hampshire - Trial running in Southsea & Cosham with reduced attendance between 9am & 5pm

Kent - From 2012 no attendance unless fire can be verified

Berkshire - No attendance between 09.00 and 21.00 unless fire can be verified

Essex - No attendance to offices, shops and factories unless fire can be verified

Norfolk - Reduced attendance at all times unless fire has been verified

Northamptonshire - No attendance to non-high risk premises unless a fire is confirmed

Staffordshire - Reduced attendance unless fire is verified

Warwickshire - No attendance between 07.00 and 20.00 unless fire is confirmed

West Midlands - No attendance between 07.00 and 20.00 to low risk premises unless fire is confirmed

West Yorkshire - No attendance to persistant false alarm premises unless 999 call received

Cumbria - May suspend attendance to persistent offenders

Greater Manchester - Reduced attendance unless fire is confirmed

Lancashire - Reduced attendance unless fire is confirmed

The FIA is notifying regional press in an effort to inform the local businesses of the changes to their local Fire and Rescue Service’s policy on attending ATA’s.

The Association will recommend that businesses review their fire risk assessment and contact their Fire Detection and Alarm (FD&A) maintenance company to review their FD&A system if needed. The Association wants to remind businesses (Responsible Persons) that they are responsible for all fire safety issues within their premises, which may mean reassessing their company’s emergency procedures to reflect the changes by their local FRS.

The FIA will write to the FRS’s across the UK to request that the Association be made aware of any future changes to their attendance policy so that we can keep members informed of the impact this may have on the end-users.

The Association is working on a best practice guide for member companies with regard to dealing with the changes for customers, which will be released in due course.

A Cambridge landlord has been fined £6,000 after his caravans were found to be in breach of fire safety regulations.

Thomas Frankham was found to have let out nine caravans on the Grassy Corner site in Chesterton which had issues with electric and fire points, as well as plumbing leaks and inadequate heating, reports Cambridge News.

Mr Frankham of Surrey pleaded guilty to six breaches of site licence conditions at Cambridge Magistrates' Court and was ordered to pay more than £1,000 in costs in addition to his fine.

Councillr Sue Ellington, South Cambridgeshire District Council's environmental services chief, revealed that the authority had tried to work with Mr Frankham and legal action had been a last resort

She said: "Despite all the help given to Mr Frankham he has ignored the warnings and continued to breach the caravan site licence, which is there to ensure the safety of residents," quotes the news provider.

"We have a duty to take appropriate action and I hope this case sends a clear message to other people who are flaunting regulations that are in place for the good of our residents."