DHF (Door & Hardware Federation) is preparing to focus on the issue of ‘gate safety’ at this year’s Fencex, where it will host a joint presentation with Easygates. DHF’s Senior Training and Technical Officer, Nick Perkins, will join Easygates’ Stuart Roddy on 17th October at 11:30, in the Seminar Theatre, to ‘dispel the myths’ associated with gate safety, and in particular, DHF TS 011:2018, which provides a framework to ensure a gate is safe and legally compliant. Nick will also be on hand to answer questions from the audience.
This year’s ‘Fencex’ event, staged bi-annually, is the only UK exhibition dedicated to perimeter security, fencing and access control, and takes place during DHF’s ‘Gate Safety Week’ initiative (15-21 October). The campaign, now in its fifth year, aims to raise awareness about the dangers of unsafe gates, as well as how to spot a potentially dangerous gate and report it. The year-round crusade culminates in a week of heightened industry-wide activity, with organisations such as HSE and The British Safety Council, putting their weight behind the federation’s objectives and continuing message that ‘Safe Gates Save Lives!’
One such organisation is the Association of Fencing Industries (AFI), whose 200 members include fencing contractors, manufacturers and installers, in addition to the specialist sub-groups the Electric Security Fencing Federation and the Electric Fence Association, all of whom have the potential to be active in the automated gate sector.
“The Association of Fencing Industries is delighted to support DHF’s initiative of Gate Safety Week 2018,” says AFI CEO, Ian Ripley. “The prevention of accidents caused by improper installation and maintenance of powered gates is of vital importance to our industry and our members. The massive legal implications of unsafe installations have been highlighted by the conviction of a gate engineer for gross negligence manslaughter and the fining of his employer in 2017. Everyone concerned with the installation and use of powered gates needs to be aware of the risks involved in their use and ensure that suitable training and precautions are in place to ensure their safe operation.”
As part of DHF’s continuing commitment to gate safety, it also, just last month, launched a new one-day Automated Gate Safety Certificate Course, aimed at automated gate and traffic barrier installation and maintenance operatives, in addition to sales people seeking to develop their knowledge. Available to both members and non-members, the new courses will start on 3rd October 2018 at DHF’s new training academy on the outskirts of Tamworth.
“DHF is delighted to have a presence at Fencex once again, where our highly experienced trainer, Nick Perkins, will be able to dissipate some of the misconceptions surrounding safe gates and the standards affecting the safety of installations, maintenance and repair,” says DHF’s Commercial Manager, Patricia Sowsbery-Stevens. “We continue to be committed to raising industry standards through key initiatives such as training and the Gate Safety Week initiative. Through these, and via collaborative working, we have seen a significant improvement industry-wide in the quality of gate installations and installer knowledge across the UK.”
DHF will be on stand 47 at Fencex. For further information about DHF’s training provision, please visit:
https://www.dhfonline.org.uk/training.htm