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JANUARY 2012
Garage Door Safety
Residential
garage doors are massive, spring-loaded devices that can operate with
just the touch of a button. These doors can weigh as much as 600 pounds
and are the largest moving objects in our homes. Each year homeowners,
children and pets are maimed or killed by these doors. With the advent
of key pads and remote controllers these doors are often used more than
any other entrance. Garage doors that were installed after 1993 are
required to have an electric eye that scans the bottom six inches of the
door opening for objects in its path, thus reducing thousands of
injuries and deaths each year. Garage door auto-reversing systems should
be tested for proper operation at least once per month. Always refer to
the owner's manual for instructions on how to test and maintain your
door and opener. If your door needs repair or adjustment contact a
qualified garage door specialist. It's money well-spent in making sure
your door will continue to operate safely. Adults should never allow
children to play with automatic door opener controllers, or allow them
to play games such as "beat the door." Key pads and wall mounted
controls should be located at least five feet from the floor and out of
the reach of smaller children. These controllers should also be mounted
in an area where users can clearly see the door as it is closing. If
someone were to be pinned under your garage door, would you know how to
operate the emergency release? Generally, you would simply pull down on
the short rope hanging from the actuator track, disconnecting the power
unit from the door so that it could be lifted by hand. Thinking about
safety is important to do at home as well as at work.
Best wishes in 2012,
Rolf Laurin, H&S
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