HARDWARE & SECURITY
DHF issues warning following school accident
Tamworth-based Door & Hardware Federation ( DHF ) has urged caution regarding reducing gaps at hinges , following an accident at a school in Surrey involving a five-year-old boy .
» DURING A RESULTING UK HEALTH and Safety Executive investigation into the incident , it was revealed that the boy ’ s hand slipped and went into the reducing hinge gap of a doorset in the school ; there was no guard installed and the incident led to the tip of his middle finger becoming detached . In a newer building at the school , hinge guards had been fitted on the doorsets . The trust was prosecuted under Section 3 ( 1 ) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 , duty of care to persons other than employees , and in October this year , was fined £ 6,000 and ordered to pay an additional £ 6,875.70 in costs .
“ The subsequent investigation discovered the trust had failed to identify the hazard which meant hinge guards were not installed on the doors in the older building ,” explains DHF ’ s Senior Training & Compliance Officer , Nick Perkins . “ This particular case serves as a timely reminder that all significant hazards must be identified and risk assessed , and where necessary , protected or eliminated , even on manual doors and gates . Clearly , the risk based on degree of harm , likelihood of occurrence and frequency of exposure means that reducing hinge gaps are high risk in premises with considerable numbers of vulnerable people present .
“ Whilst for powered doors , gates & barriers there is a very clear requirement in supply of machinery safety law to eliminate or protect all reachable reducing gaps , there is also a need to risk assess all doors , gate and barrier installations ( including manual systems ) under health and safety law , especially those fitted with spring loaded self-closing devices .”
Ultimate responsibility for safety within and about a premises lies with the owner or manager , but it is important to note that maintenance providers also have a legal obligation to identify and inform their clients about the safety of doors , gates and barriers they are repairing or maintaining ; where possible , they are required to leave the system ( hand it back to the client ) in a safe condition .
Information regarding the supply of machinery safety law comprises UK : Supply of Machinery Safety Regulations 2008 , and Republic of Ireland : European Communities ( Machinery ) Regulations 2008 ; National health and safety law comprises UK : Health & Safety at Work Act 1974 , Northern Ireland : Health & Safety at Work Order 1978 , and Republic of Ireland : Safety , health and welfare at Work Act 2005 ; Workplace Safety Law comprises UK : Workplace ( Health , Safety & Welfare ) Regulations 1992 , Northern Ireland : Workplace ( Health , Safety & Welfare ) Regulations ( NI ) 1993 , and Republic of Ireland : Safety , Health and Welfare at Work ( General Application ) Regulations 2007 .
“ DHF also delivers training for Automated Gate Group , Industrial Door Group and Garage Door Group members on the topic of reducing gaps ; in addition , further information can be found in DHF publication , TS 013 : https :// bit . ly / DHFTechnicalSpecifications ,” concludes Nick .
www . dhfonline . org . uk
38
DECEMBER 2024
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