Door safety

Door safety relates to prevention of door-related accidents. Such accidents take place in various forms, and in a number of locations; ranging from car doors to garage doors. Accidents vary in severity and frequency; however within the US, governmental departments have begun legislating to reduce the number of accidents that occur in doors. According to the National Safety Council, 300,000 injuries are caused by doors every year.

Because of the number of accidents taking place, there has been a surge in the number of law suits. As organisations are at risk when car doors or doors within buildings are unprotected, businesses have begun offering solutions (such as door guards) to neutralise the threat posed by doors. A closing door can exert up to 40 tons per square inch of pressure between the hinges.

According to the General Services Administration, Child Care Center Design Guide, June 1998:

:"...It is essential that children's fingers be protected from being crushed or otherwise injured in the hinge space of a swinging door or gate. There are simple devices available to attach to the hinge side, ensuring that this type of injury does not occur. As the door closes, the hand is pushed out of the opening, away from harm. In addition, young children are vulnerable to injury when they fall against the other (hinged) side of doors and gates, striking projected hinges. Piano hinges are not recommended to alleviate this problem as they tend to sag over time with heavy use. Instead, an inexpensive device fitting over hinges is available on the market and should be used to ensure safety..."

Door guards

Door guards (also known as hinge guards , anti-finger trapping devices and / or finger guards) protect fingers in door hinges. Door guards do this by covering the gap that is created by opening doors by covering the hinges of doors with a piece of rubber or plastic that wraps from the door frame to the door.

The purpose of door guards is to reduce the number of finger trapping accidents in doors, as doors pose a risk to children especially when closing.

There are various levels of door protection: From front door protection, which uses a front anti-finger trapping device, however leaves the rear hinge pin side of the door unprotected; to full door protection, which uses front and rear anti-finger trapping devices and ensures the hinge side of a door is fully protected. The level of protection is determined by a risk assesment of the door, which some companies offer free.

There is also handle side door protection, which uses various products that prevent the door from slamming shut on the frame, which can cause injury to fingers/hands.

See also

* Safety
* Risk management
* Intercom

References

External links

* [http://www.fts.gsa.gov/frs US General Services Administration]
* [http://www.safetycouncil.com National Safety Council]
* [http://www.dti.gov.uk DTI S.M.A.R.T Award]
* [http://www.fingershield.co.uk Fingershield Safety UK]