KEEP PEOPLE SAFE FROM INDUSTRIAL GATES

SafeWork NSW

SafeWork NSW is reminding those who own industrial gates to get them checked after a number of serious incidents, including two deaths.

While industrial gates are a great way to protect property at home or on worksites, they have the potential to be extremely dangerous if not properly maintained as they can weigh hundreds of kilograms.

A lack of maintenance can cause them to fall or become unhinged and cause serious injury or even death.

A 64-year-old worker died in 2020 after an electric industrial gate weighing nearly 260kg fell on him as he was trying to manually open it.

The gate and surrounding fencing had been damaged and was yet to be fully repaired.

From 2017 to 2022, there were 17 serious injuries to workers involving industrial gates, including two worker fatalities. The top cause of injuries by falling industrial gates are a fractured pelvis and a fractured vertebra.

SafeWork NSW

Inspectors are out and about checking industrial gates at construction, agricultural, transport and warehousing worksites.