Automatic security gates serve a purpose, they keep people safe but sometimes security gates can be at the centre of a tragedy as a group of young boys found out recently. A parking lot security gate in Brooklyn New York became the centre of a group of young boys dare game, the object of the game was to rid on the edge of the security gate for as long as possible before jumping off.
Unfortunately things went horribly wrong for one 12 year old boy in particular when he tried to jump off his hand got trapped in the gate and he could not jump free, the gate also ailed to stop rolling up and the young boy was pulled helplessly into the rolling up part of the security gate where he was crushed to death. The young boy’s body was trapped within the rolled up security gate for twenty minutes before fire fighters and paramedics could extract him from the gate. He was pronounced dead at the hospital and had suffered severe head injuries.
According to the building staff these local children had often played this game of dare on this particular security gate and had been warned on more than one occasion not to do so as it was potentially very dangerous. Security gates of the size generally required by parking lots are very heavy and require very powerful motors to raise and lower them safely; this also makes them potentially extremely dangerous.
This particular building complex had the security gate installed in order to keep its residents safe especially at night. It has also been discovered that security staff that was on duty that day ailed to notice the boys playing on the gate, there are around 350 security cameras throughout the building and around 16 monitors that security guards are supposed to be monitoring at all times. The family of the deceased boy is planning on suing the security firm because of the alleged neglect of duties on the part of the security staff that particular day.
Test your own gate now: close it and pass something soft through the beam, and it should stop and reverse at once. If it does not, call us and we will fit or realign safety beams and check the motor settings.