July 2020: Ten years since the deaths of Semelia Campbell and Karolina Golabek (28.06.2010 and 03.07.2010 respectively), the tragic accidents which proved the catalyst for Gate Safe’s inception, founder Richard Jackson claims that while awareness levels of automated gate safety have improved, there is still much to be done to reduce the number of automated gate / barrier accidents.

The charity has now trained nearly 2,000 installers and undertaken over 100 independent site surveys, many featuring multiple gates . However, although there are now more suitably trained and competent installers in the field, Gate Safe continues to publicise the need to avoid the ‘accidental installer’, a technician who might be on site for a number of other jobs, who is asked to take on the installation of an automated gate without the benefit of the requisite specialist training. In addition, Gate Safe remains concerned about the number of recorded accidents relating to heavy gates falling onto victims, due to a poor level of understanding pertaining to the safety of a gate in terms of its intrinsic mechanical structure.

Commenting Richard Jackson said, “The original team that was involved in the Gate Safe campaign 10 years ago remains in place today and every one of us remains acutely aware of the irreparable pain and suffering inflicted on Semelia and Karolina’s families following the terrible accidents of 2010. We will continue to work tirelessly to raise awareness of the need to treat automated gates and barriers with as much respect as a car. These installations are classed as machines and as such, should only be installed by engineers with the appropriate understanding to fit a safe and compliant structure. And just as you’d never dream of driving a car that has not been routinely serviced and adequately maintained, so too should a gate owner be aware of their responsibility to adhere to a regular maintenance programme to ensure the continued safety of anyone using the gate.

Automated gates continue to grow in popularity, our job is to ensure that awareness of the correct safety protocol required for this type of access control measures keeps pace with the increase in demand.”