The importance of correct garage installation
In Cambridge during August 2016, Heidi Chalkley and Susan Gilmore were in an underground car park near Susan Gilmore’s home. The friends were intending to go on a night out and so made their way towards the barrier instead of the internal doors that would have taken them to Susan Gilmore’s home.
Ms Gilmore said in an inquest in 2018:
“We were walking next to each other and Heidi has gone slightly ahead of me and pressed the button. “As it went up Heidi said to me: ‘Have you ever held on to it as it goes up?’ I said: ‘No.’ She then reached up, held the shutter and it lifted her off the ground”. She described how, “Everything happened really quickly, in a matter of seconds.”
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) described how Ms Chalkley had pressed the button to open the roller-shutter garage door, held on to it as it moved upwards and became stuck as it twisted around the roller, killing her.
An examination by the watchdog found sensors on the garage door, which should have stopped the door from closing, were not working at the time of the incident due to faulty wiring. The company in charge of work on the roller shutter door, BS Graves (Electrical) Limited, failed to check the sensors during a review the month before Ms Chalkley’s death.
HSE inspector Graeme Warden said:
“This tragic and distressing incident has had an untold impact on all those who knew Heidi,” and “It could have been avoided if the company had ensured employees were suitably trained to inspect the doors and the functioning of the safety sensors.”
Where does this align with APG?
As HSE inspector Graeme Warden explained the tragic incident could have been avoided if the company had trained their employees to ensure all aspects of the door was fully functioning. APG always aims to be transparent about its accreditations to help show our customers we are doing the job right and they can feel assured that their safety and security needs are met by people trained to industry-leading standards. To read more about the accreditations we hold find it here.
APG’s Boundary Gate and Barrier division, concerned with designing gates, barriers, turnstiles, roller shutters, road blockers, bollards, fencing has a dedicated team of skilled and experienced individuals and a reputation for knowledge and expertise in Perimeter Security systems. BGB provide a reliable, honest, cost effective service and are dedicated to giving customers the highest level of service and support always.
BGB offers installation and repairs committing to ensure all installation and repairs are completed on time and to budget, with minimal disruptions to daily operations. As well as, ensuring continual developmental training in gate safety to remain up to date with the latest guidelines issued by the HSE and the requirements set by British Standards, Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations.
BGB also maintain a 24/7 manned Service Desk for all call outs and the dispatching of our national team of trained engineers to wherever the customer needs. More information on BGB can be found here.
BGB is accredited by DHF, the only unified trade body concerned with locks & building hardware, metal door sets, timber doors sets, industrial doors & rolling shutters, garage doors and automated gates sectors. Its main aim is to raise industry standards and reassure customers they are using products and services of the highest quality that conform with the latest legislation, safety, and technical specifications.
Additionally, BGB is also accredited by Gate Safe. Their main aim is to stop casualties and fatalities occurring as a result of an unsafe electric gate or barrier installation. They exist to promote improved understanding of the legislation and ensuring best industry practice. These accreditates is an assurance that BGB will provide an excellent service from start to finish.
About BGB
Established in 2007 Boundary Gate and Barrier Contracts dedicated team of skilled and experienced individuals have quickly established an impressive national customer base and an enviable reputation for knowledge and expertise in the application of Perimeter Security systems. Our mission is to provide you with a reliable, honest, cost-effective service and we are dedicated to giving you, our customers, the highest level of service and support at all times. Boundary Gate and Barrier Contracts is part of APG.
About APG
The Asset Protection Group comprises a group of Fire & Security companies with shared ownership and one common goal, protecting your most important assets. As a collective group, we look to offer protection to your assets to assist you with your ongoing success within your own business.