How Health & Safety Compliance in Electric Gates & Barriers Protects Your Business

When you think about electric gates or barriers, the first things that come to mind are usually security and convenience. But there’s another side that doesn’t get talked about enough: Health & Safety (H&S) compliance.

It’s not just a box-ticking exercise. Compliance is what keeps your insurance valid, your liability low, and your business protected if something ever goes wrong.

What Can Go Wrong Without H&S?

1. Missing or Incorrect Safety Features (Sensors, Force Limitation, Obstacle Detection)

Why it's dangerous: Without sensors or force limitation, the gate can slam with excessive force, leading to crush injuries or fatalities.

Child fatalities: In Manchester, a six-year-old girl named Semelia Campbell was tragically killed when an electric gate closed on her; the safety systems like force limitation and obstacle detection were not functional. The installing company, Cheshire Gates and Automation Ltd, was later heavily fined under corporate manslaughter laws. 

Impact injuries: Delivery drivers and contractors have suffered broken bones after being knocked down by swing gates that lacked safety sensors.

Consequence: Serious injuries, fatalities, and corporate liability.

2. Poor Installation or Inherently Unsafe Design

Why it's dangerous: A gate installed without considering trapping points, or with structural flaws, can leave people — especially children — vulnerable.

Child fatalities: In Bridgend, five-year-old Karolina Golabek was crushed by a sliding gate lacking proper safety mechanisms and force control. Courts found both the installation and maintenance teams negligent, issuing substantial fines—£60,000 to the installer and £50,000 to the maintenance firm.

Vehicle damage: Barrier arms that fail to detect vehicles have smashed onto company cars, forklifts, and even delivery vans. In many cases, insurance claims were rejected because the systems were found non-compliant.

Consequence: Liability often falls directly on the property manager or operator, not just the installer.

3. Lack of Maintenance & Absence of Safety Audits Over Time

Why it’s dangerous: Even a compliant gate deteriorates over time. Sensors misalign, safety edges wear out, and controls fail—turning a safe gate into a dangerous one.

Fatal case: In Poole, Dorset, a boy’s head was fatally crushed when gates were found to be missing basic safeguards. The construction firm was fined £80,000 for failing to address avoidable risks. 

Maintenance neglect: Several court cases have shown companies held liable years later because they failed to keep up with inspections and servicing.

The pattern is clear: non-compliance = liability on the owner/operator, not the installer who left years ago.

Why Insurers Care

Insurance companies will always ask: “Was this system compliant with industry standards?” If the answer is no—say the gate didn’t have the right safety edges or photocells—you risk:

• Having your claim rejected.

• Being held fully responsible for injury or damage.

• Higher premiums after an incident.

In short: compliance is your paper trail of protection.

Why These Failures Matter in Business & Insurance Terms

Failure Type	Practical Consequence
No safety features	Leads to serious injury or death conditions with no legal or insurance shield.
Poor design/install	Liability shifts squarely onto the owner/operator; insurance may deny claims.
No ongoing maintenance	Systems degrade—unnoticed risks become real threats over time.

All three failures weaken your insurance defence and expose your business/property to legal action, financial loss, and reputational damage.

H&S at Every Stage: Pre, During & Post Installation

At CM Gates & Barriers, our H&S approach runs through the entire project lifecycle:

1. Pre-Installation

• Risk Assessments & Site Surveys: Every site is unique. We assess potential hazards (vehicle flow, pedestrian access, pinch points, safety zones) to ensure the design itself is compliant before installation even begins.

• Insurance-Ready Documentation: We prepare method statements and compliance paperwork that demonstrate due diligence for insurers and stakeholders.

2. During Installation

• Qualified Engineers & Safe Practices: Our team is trained in industry H&S standards, ensuring safe working practices on-site to protect your staff, contractors, and the public.

• Certified Equipment: We only install gates and barriers that comply with EU/UK regulations, CE marking, and EN 12453 standards.

3. Post-Installation

• Testing & Certification: Every installation undergoes safety testing (force testing, photocells, safety edges, emergency stop functions) and is certified for compliance.

• Ongoing Maintenance & Inspections: Compliance isn’t a one-off exercise. Regular servicing ensures systems remain safe and legally compliant—critical for insurance and peace of mind.

The Business Case for Compliance

Think of H&S compliance not as a regulatory burden, but as an investment in your business:

• Protects people: Prevents accidents, injuries, and reputational damage.

• Protects assets: Reduces breakdowns and property damage.

• Protects finances: Ensures insurance claims stand and avoids costly litigation.

• Protects continuity: Keeps your operations running smoothly.

Why Partner with CM Gates & Barriers?

• Proven Expertise: Years of experience working with commercial contractors, facilities managers, and high-security sites. See our case studies here.

• Accredited Professionals: Fully qualified engineers with up-to-date industry training and certifications.

• End-to-End Compliance: From survey to installation and long-term servicing, we ensure your gates and barriers remain compliant for the lifetime of the system.

Book a free consultation with CM Gates & Barriers to ensure your electric gate installation is planned, installed and maintained in accordance with health and safety regulations.