Delivery drivers Whoops!

"I hardly touched it" proclaimed the driver, "and it just fell...."

Another claim to sort out of a firm delivering goods to a home with powered gates. One in a growing line of claims that can be quite complex to sort out correctly.

Very often we come across this very scenario and find ourselves face with a real dilemma. What represents doing the right thing? - The firm involved would like a speedy repair and the owner, off their back as soon as possible (pressure from bad press and the growth of social media exposure). - The owner wanting it all sorted out so it was at least as good if not better than before the incident. - The insurance company wanting a cost-effective solution. - The installation or repair company wanting to keep people happy, provide a satisfactory or better result and their legal obligation to be as compliant as is practical and safe to achieve.

Just about every time an automatic gate system is damaged, the straight forward like for like repair is not the right one! All motorised installations are officially classified as an 'In-situ Machine' and are governed under the Machinery Directive, having to comply with current safety standards, of which there are many. In more simple terms, no gate system is allowed to be able to cause injury to persons or damage to property and a risk of likelihood needs to be undertaken and signed off by the person, responsible for, putting the system back into use.

This often means that the original system was not installed in keeping with the latest/current standards and additional, or alternative work is now required for it to be turned back on.

Although insurance companies are reluctant to accept 'Betterment' or such like, they have an obligation to allow all work required to ensure that the repaired system meets the latest standards. This is however a subjective view made by the person assessing the installation's risk and identifying any likely #hazard and #remedy (some remedies can create alternative hazards that would also need to be addressed/mitigated).

This highlights the owner's need to employ a truly qualified and experienced surveyor/assessor, for the costing of repairs and any (safety) modifications needed. It is the owner of a system that will have to explain their choice should a claim be made against them.

We would advise the owner to consider what is the best course of action? Is the installation still right for their needs and its location? Does it suit the requirements of the users and does it perform well. This could be a great time to think about alternatives and negotiate with the insures for the best outcome for all?

Owners could have a more suitable result, that is safer, looks and works better, is more reliable and less vulnerable to damage, keeping the insurance company happier?

The firm who's driver caused the damage, could use this experience to demonstrate and promote their honorable commitment to responsibility and care of their customers?

The repairs company can be let get on with doing the job properly and enhance the true potential our industry has to offer.

Gate design installation and support since 1988 with more 20+ year old working systems than almost any other. Timber or Metal systems commercial or residentcial of every kind.