Gates must be as safe as houses

THERE must be greater reliance on safety standards instead of mere ornateness when it comes to the design of heavy gates. When such gates fall and injure, or in some tragic cases kill people, repeatedly over time, the State cannot turn a blind eye. It has a role to play, alongside key stakeholders such as manufacturers, craftsmen and professional design and engineering associations.

It is tempting to see these kinds of incidents as freak accidents or the work of fate. But though individual circumstances may differ, we cannot ignore the fact that shoddy design and fabrication may well be contributing factors in these accidents taking place, sometimes with fatal consequences.

The regularity with which falling gates in this country cause injury or death cannot be ignored. Nor can we ignore the fact that in recent times most people harmed have been minors.

On Sunday, Kameel Ali, 16, was crushed to death when the 12-foot-tall gate at the front of his family’s home fell. He was the only child to his parents.

In February, five-year-old Krystal Laloo died after a gate fell on her at her Sangre Chiquito home. A cousin was also injured in that incident.

In April, a student of the Carapichaima East Secondary School suffered injuries to her head, back, hands, shoulders and knees when a staff member tried to open a three-part metal folding gate and it fell.

But children are not the only victims. Darren Mangalsingh, 25, was on his way to work when a gate fell and crushed him to death a few years ago.

Even the seat of our country's legislature and our very democracy – the Red House – played host to this kind of accident when Police Constable Preetum Ramdass, who was assigned guard duties, narrowly escaped very serious injury or death after a steel gate collapsed on him in 2021.

The Urban Development Corporation, which oversaw a million-dollar restoration of the premises, distanced itself from the matter and pointed fingers at the contractor.

But state agencies have a role to play in enforcing a culture of compliance by holding contractors to account. The State also has oversight of consumer affairs agencies which should be monitoring and enforcing standards, as well as design codes that should be implemented by professional craftsmen and installation experts.

The irony is these incidents may have more to do with the proliferation of gates due to concerns about crime. It is tragic that citizens, in putting basic measures in place to reduce risk, fall prey to other dangers.

So what can be done?

Consumer behaviour is a large part of the consideration. Awareness is key.

However, there is no reason why this country cannot adopt and enforce a range of standards to regulate automatic gates and heavy gates, modelled after directives in force within the European Union.

Planning authorities and public health agencies should also inspect gates to ensure they are as safe as houses.