Gate Safe, the charity that pioneered the move towards improving the safety of automated gates is to introduce a ‘Gate Safe MOT’ initiative designed to maximise further awareness of the need to ensure the correct installation and on-going maintenance of any electric gate.
The Gate Safe MOT is a weatherproof sticker which will be prominently sited near the gate to indicate that an automated gate has been installed / maintained by a suitably qualified Gate Safe Aware installer, who has undergone Gate Safe training and understands how to deliver a safe and legally compliant installation. The annual MOT disc will be completed by the installer / maintenance provider offering a clear, easily identifiable visual prompt that indicates the month and year of issue, thus advising gate users that the device in use is has been through the requisite safety checks, or conversely, is overdue a visit.
Gate Safe founder Richard Jackson says, “One of the early suggestions put forward when we first launched Gate Safe, was the introduction of a Kitemark type accreditation that would provide reassurance that the gate had undergone a relevant risk assessment and protocol had been adhered to, to indicate that it conforms to the required safety standards. In order to develop this type of scheme, it was paramount that we had enough Gate Safe Aware installers in the field to enable a national roll-out. We’ve discussed the concept with our approaching 750 installer community and are now confident that with their co-operation and support, we have sufficient resource to launch the Gate Safe MOT. Up until now, to the untrained eye, there is nothing to distinguish between a safe and unsafe automated gate installation. The eye catching Gate Safe MOT will provide instant verification as to whether the gate has been subjected to recent safety checks.”
