Severe Injury Caused by Obsolete Gate Latch

Following an accident involving a manual gate at a primary school, Gate Safe wishes to urgently highlight the dangers associated with obsolete gate ironmongery.

As the location was a school, installers working in such environments must be particularly vigilant in identifying and eliminating risks that could endanger vulnerable children.

In response, the school has taken immediate action by removing all slide latches from more than 30 gates and securing them closed with padlocks and chains. Gate Safe has further advised that each gate should be fitted with appropriate drop bolts to secure them safely in both the open and closed positions, preventing any unintended movement.

Make sure your gates are safe with these Handsam resources:

RAS99 Risk Assessment Template; School Gates (Manual and Powered

RAS34 Risk Assessment Template: Gate Duty

PR05 Security in Schools

PR01 School Premises Provisions and Regulations

Handsam interview with Gate Safe

The incident involved a young pupil walking from his classroom to the playground. While waiting for the playground gate to be opened, the child placed his ring finger into a hole in the gate latch. His finger became trapped against the steel frame of the latch mechanism, and when he withdrew it, he suffered a severe injury resulting in the loss of the fingertip.

This distressing incident highlights several critical factors that should have been addressed during the gate’s installation:

The additional hole in the slide latch created an entrapment hazard that should have been designed out of the gate system.

Obsolete ironmongery that is not essential to the safe operation of a gate should always be removed. Had the outdated latch been removed, this incident would not have occurred.