Advice On Electric Gates Welcomed

A leading injury lawyer from Irwin Mitchell has backed the Health and Safety Executive’s latest safety notice on the use of electrically-powered gates in and around construction sites.

David Urpeth has given his support to the new document, which is designed to update firms on the correct use of the systems following two recent incidents involving sliding gates which both led to the deaths of young pedestrians.

According to the HSE, firms need to ensure they have the right equipment in place to measure whether the closing and opening forces are in line with British and European standards.

Other measures addressed by the notice include calls for the gates to include sensors that will prevent them from closing if there is an obstacle, as well as for an emergency release to be in place.

Welcoming the notice, personal injury expert David Urpeth said: “A large number of incidents linked to electrically operated gates are avoidable, so we support the release of new preventative information like this.

“Health and safety is a key issue for all companies and information like this will ensure they place the topic higher up their agenda.”