Following the tragic death of Karolina Maria Golabek aged 5 who died after being crushed by an automatic electric sliding gate in South Wales, a Health and Safety Executive (HSE) spokesperson has said: "HSE has been assisting the police in South Wales following the death of a child in an accident involving a slide electric gate in Bridgend on Saturday. Inspectors have already been on site to start an investigation and will meet again today with South Wales police. It is too early to comment on what happened at this stage”.
The five-year-old girl, who was playing at the entrance to a small car park at Brook Court, Bridgend, died in an accident when she was trapped by an electric sliding gate outside an apartment block.
In a separate accident, also involving the tragic death of another little girl, the HSE spokesperson said, "HSE is also assisting police in Greater Manchester (GMP) following the death of Semelia Campbell aged 6, in Moss Side last week.”
The six year old girl was playing with a friend near her home on Carnival Place, Moss Side, Manchester, when the electric sliding gate closed on her. Semelia Campbell was taken to Manchester Royal Infirmary where she later died from her injuries.
"In Manchester, HSE and GMP have required that developments in the vicinity of the Maine Road estate, which have electric sliding gates similar to those being investigated following the death of Semelia Campbell, are locked in an open position until inspectors can fully examine them and ensure there is no ongoing risk.
"HSE issued a safety alert to electric sliding gate manufacturers and installers in February this year, reminding them of their safety responsibilities when designing, constructing and installing electrically powered gates, to minimise the risk of accidents happening.
"Should anyone have any concerns about electric sliding gates on their development, they should speak to their management company or their installer, who have a duty to ensure the gates will stop safely should they be obstructed (also known as force limitation protection). They must ensure that the force limitation protection and other anti-crushing, shearing and trapping safety protection devices are correctly set and maintained."