Description
Ensuring automated gates can be released in the event of an accident is part of the current advice from the Health & Safety Executive and having the release key/lever stored in close proximity to the gate where people can access them easily (whilst still remaining secure) is vital. A secure lock box for the release key/lever and release instructions means you always know where they are, and their proximity to the gate means vital time will be save as they are nearby.
The lock box is opened with a standard Yale-style key which can be re-cut as many times as required and issued to all authorised users of the gate.
This fulfils the two requirements of the HSE advice:-
1) access to the key is critical to quick release of the gates
2) release keys and release instructions are readily available
HSE Safety Notice FOD 7-2010 states:-
“An important consideration with the operation of automatic gates is the emergency arrangements to release someone should a crushing, shearing or drawing-in incident occur and the person remains trapped. Many designs of drive units require the use of a release key and lever to disconnect the drive from the gate and allow it to be moved manually. In such circumstances, access to the release key is critical to the quick release of the gate and so arrangements should be in place to ensure that release keys and release instructions are readily available to all authorised users of the gate.”