Gate firm fined following boy's death, highlighting importance of managing safely courses

Category: IOSH Managing Safely
Monday 1st of March 2010

A firm has been fined after the death of a nine-year-old boy who was crushed by a gate.

Managing safely courses students may remember an earlier trial in which another company, Electric Gate Services, was cleared of failing to comply with heath and safety rules.

In this subsequent case, Faulkner Gates of Romney in Hampshire was fined £80,000 plus costs after previously pleading guilty to failing to control the risks that could occur through installing the gates.

Jason Keet was killed when he tried to open the gates at the entrance to the block of flats occupied by his grandparents.

Reaching through a gap between the gates and a pillar to press the button to open the gates, he was crushed when they began to open.

Health and Safety Executive inspector Stephen Hanson-Hall said that the company should have undertaken a risk assessment and communicated its findings to the other organisations involved in the design and installation of the gates.

Posted by Sam Lowther

News Index