App improves gate safety

The ‘Automated Gate Safety Matrix App’ is the product of gate automation company Gate-A-Mation, and works by asking over thirty multiple choice questions to assess risk factors. These cover everything from location and type of use, to technical details such as opening width, manual override status and operator force.

The app then instantly provides an assessment score that is broken down into two sections – risk and safety – and highlights areas of concern that need addressing or require remedial work. These results can then be emailed out as a PDF.

The app was originally developed for use by Gate-A-Mation’s own engineers. However, its wider potential quickly became clear:

"The app has replaced our old spreadsheet system and covers most if not all aspects of gate design & safety, nothing is left out,” general manager Alan Smith says.

"It has vastly improved the detail, consistency and speed of our safety risk assessments, so we have released it onto the market as it can be of huge benefit to anyone involved with powered gate safety."

Version 2 of the app can be downloaded for free until the end of 2015 via the Google Play store, with IOS set to follow soon.