When slide gates become fatal

By Vicky Wandawa

Last month, a fouryear- old boy lost his life when his head was smashed by a gate at his parents’ home in Ntinda. He had joined a security guard to open a gate for his father, who had returned from shopping. Halfway through, the sliding gate fell back, crashing his head.

Earlier on, two girls rolled a gate after their father had driven out, only for the mother to hear a deafening sound. The elder girl saw the gate coming and ran away, but the  young one was not lucky. The gate crashed her and she died instantly. In the past, the most common gate accidents were perhaps when a child climbed it and fell off, getting scratched by its sharp edges or having a finger or two hit.

However, with the new trend of sliding gates, the accidents are more ghastly. Such gates slide on their rollers to open and close. Rollers are the wheels that drive a sliding gate.

Hanington Semwanga, the managing director of Ssonko Metal Crafts in Bbunga, says slide gates are the in-thing, unlike traditional swing gates. “Most homes around Kampala have sliding gates,” he says. Livingstone Seruyange, a marketing consultant with Sekanyolya Systems, says slide gates are popular because they do well where space is limited. If well-fitted, Semwanga adds, the slide gate can easily  be operated by a child as young as five.

In terms of costs, he says, if one has a slide gate and would like to make it automated, he would have to pay half the cost. “For automation, the slide gate requires one mortar, unlike the swing gate which uses two mortars, hence more costs,” Semwanga explains.

Much as slide gates are convenient and trendy, poor workmanship and maintenance can translate into enormous costs, including loss of lives and property, when they fail. Semwanga warns: “Domestic use gates can weigh over 200kg. One gate can be carried by about seven to 10 people. If it came down, not even an adult can hold it. They have to run for their lives. Besides loss of lives, people have suffered big losses when the gates crash their properties, such as cars.”

Nonetheless, not all is gloom. You can still have that trendy slide gate at your houses, because the accidents are preventable, and here is how:

Regular checks are key

A sliding gate, just like a car, requires regular checks and maintenance by qualified personnel. Semwanga says if not checked, mud and water are bound to infiltrate the system, gradually destroying it.

Unfortunately, most clients do not care about routine maintenance, even when they notice anomalies, so long as the gate opens and closes. “If you detect any problem, contact your supplier. For instance, if the slide gate seems to move faster than usual, slower or is harder to move, do not take it for granted. Who knows, the next thing might be falling on someone or property?” Semwanga warns.

The anomalies, however, may not be noticed by someone with a guard or house help. Such people should, therefore, be cautioned to report any anomaly. He also warns of seemingly trivial accidents within the compound, for instance reversing into the gate, but not checking it out just because it does not seem to have any physical damage. It could come crashing down later. “For proper maintenance, the sliding gate should be checked by qualified personnel on a quarterly basis. Having that gate fitted should not be the last time you interact with your supplier,” Semwanga advises.

Many people would cite lack of funds as the main reason for their failure to carry out regular checks on their gates, but Semwanga says reputable firms do not charge for checks, but repairs and replacements.

Caution the children

Seruyange advises that to avoid accidents, children should not swing on the gate and should always be discouraged from opening them. He says children usually consider sliding gates as toys. “When they climb, shake or ride on it, that weight gradually destroys it,” Semwanga warns.

Mind the material used

Seruyange says sliding gates should be installed with strong rollers and supports to keep them in their positions. Stainless steel rollers, according to Semwanga, are the best because they can withstand the effects of water and mud.

Beware of fakes

“As a buyer, you may be attracted to a gate because it is cheap. “That gate will soon turn faulty. The difference in cost between the fake rollers and genuine ones is about sh50,000 per pair, but it is worth it,” says Semwanga.

Unfortunately, Seruyange says, for an ordinary buyer, it is difficult to differentiate between a genuine roller and a fake one. “That is why we advise buyers to purchase from reputable companies, where warranty is always given and the company has a name to protect,” says Seruyange.