Health and Safety
Executive / Commission
Press Releases
E032:06 22 March 2006
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has today issued an information document to the owners of vertically opening powered rolling doors following a number of serious and fatal accidents to children riding on these doors.
Vertically opening powered rolling doors are found at industrial, commercial, larger residential apartments and office complexes. They are often used at the entrances to secure underground car parks and can be the first barrier to preventing people getting into the building.
Two fatalities which occurred in the UK involved the children being lifted up by the door and becoming fatally entangled.
The most recent prosecution was in October 2005, where the building owner pleaded guilty to health and safety breaches and was fined £50,000 with £50,000 costs.
Phil Gifford, Principal Inspector, of the HSE’s Investigating Unit said: “This was a tragic loss of life that could have so easily been prevented. Car parks are not playgrounds and the owners of such doors should make sure all the foreseeable risks are considered in buildings where children are likely to be present.”
The information document is being sent to commercial landlords and local authorities who are likely to operate premises with these kinds of doors.
Press enquiries
Elizabeth Timms 020 7717 6712
Out of hours
020 7928 8382
Public enquiries
HSE's InfoLine 0845 3450055
Caerphilly Business Park, Caerphilly CF83 3GG
HSE information and news releases can be accessed on the Internet www.hse.gov.uk/
HSE Information Document Intended for:
Property Managers
Property Owners
Landlords
Car Park Operators
Local Authorities
RE: FATAL ACCIDENTS TO CHILDREN ON VERTICALLY OPENING POWERED ROLLING DOORS (INCLUDING ROLLER SHUTTER AND ROLLING GRILLE DOORS)
Background
1. HSE is aware of a number of serious and fatal accidents to children riding on vertically opening powered rolling doors, the two deaths which occurred in the UK involved the children being lifted up by the door and becoming fatally entangled/trapped in the door.
2. In both accidents precautions had not been taken to prevent persons being able to ride up with the doors when they opened.
3. The most recent death involved an 11 year old in November 2001. The investigation into this accident resulted in a trial in October 2005, where the building owner plead guilty to health and safety breaches and was fined £50,000.
4. This document is intended for the people who own, operate or install such doors as part of a business.
ACTION EXISTING VERTICALLY OPENING POWERED ROLLING DOORS
5. Where a door could be powerful enough to lift an adult or child, this is a hazard that could lead to misuse and the type of accidents already described. Building owners or whoever is responsible for these doors should review their risk assessment to evaluate this hazard and ensure suitable measures are provided.
6. Where children are likely to have access to a powered rolling door that could lift them, then safety measures must be provided. The European Standard, BS EN 12453:2001 (reference1) recognises this hazard and recommends the following safeguarding options:
7. The most appropriate safeguard or combination of safeguards should be selected where the risk exists as part of a suitable risk assessment to ensure that the powered rolling shutter door is safe. Retrofit options may be available from the door supplier, otherwise a bespoke solution will be required.
ACTION OWNERS SHOULD TAKE WHEN SPECIFYING NEW DOORS OR MODIFYING EXISTING DOORS TO POWERED OPERATION
8. Some factors to consider:
9. This risk is greater where the vertical opening rolling door is the external means of preventing access, for example car parks in offices and apartment type buildings.
10. The risk increases with the degree of automation of the roller shutter door. The risk is highest where an automatically controlled door is easily accessible by members of public, though any accessible powered door should be assessed.
11. Any potential risk is increased where children are likely to be present for example: within the building (residents, crèche, etc.); a building near to residential areas; on routes to school or facilities used by children; or where children are known to congregate. When considering the possible presence of children speak to persons who use the building (employees, security providers, other tenants). Other factors such as graffiti and vandalism will indicate the presence of children.
12. Before installing any new door a design risk assessment should be undertaken. This assessment should include any potential risk to members of public, in particular children.
13. All new doors or existing doors retrofitted with powered operation must be CE marked showing they comply with the Supply of Machinery Regulations 1992, as amended. Doors manufactured in accordance with BS EN 12453: 2001 are one means of achieving this. Information on recording the modification or conversion of an existing door is given in Annex C of Reference3.
14. Where doors form part of the fire control measures you should consult the local Fire Authority and Local Authority Building Control Department to the ensure that they met relevant standards.
15. Further information on specifying powered doors is freely available from the manufacturers trade association (Reference4).
REFURBISHMENT OR MODIFICATION OF EXISTING DOORS.
16. If a door is modified or refurbished and this results in significant changes to the control or operation of the door, then the door will have to be CE marked by the person undertaking the modification or refurbishment. Information on recording of such modifications or conversions is given in Annex C of Reference3.
17. Examples of significant alterations that would require CE marking are:
18. Examples of non-significant alterations that would not require CE marking are:
19. These are guidelines and each situation would have to be assessed on a case-by-case basis.
Further Information
1 British Standard, BS EN 12453:2001, Industrial, commercial and garage doors and gates – Safety in use of power operated doors – Requirements.
2 British Standard BS EN 12978:2003, Industrial, commercial and garage doors and gates – Safety devices for power operated doors and gates – Requirements and test methods.
3 British Standard BS EN 12635:2002, Industrial, commercial and garage doors and gates – Installation and use.
4 Door and Hardware Federation, Good practice guide to specifying power operated doors and automatic power operated doors, (CP201) available from the DHF, 42 Heath Street, Tamworth, Staffs B97
MARCH 2006