Considering people use roll-up doors at their workplace on a daily basis, the assumption is that these doors are commonplace and, therefore, not dangerous. However, in a business setting, these doors are very heavy, are significantly larger and higher up, and have a different set of safety features as compared to residential garage doors. There are several important safety precautions you can take to prevent accidents and injury from commercial overhead doors.
Never stand or walk under a moving door.
Instead, wait until it is no longer moving, and look to make sure it has opened correctly and is not somehow malfunctioning. Doors can malfunction like any other mechanical system. Even if they appear to be in working order, you still need to be careful to prevent workplace injuries. Unlike your garage door at home, these commercial overhead doors are heavy, and may not have sensors to detect when something is under them to stop automatically. So, if you are under one that is moving, it may just keep going until it is all the way down.
Use a man door instead of walking under a raised door.
This is the best way to avoid injury by a commercial overhead door. Just because the door is raised, does not mean that it could not still hurt you or someone else. You could start to walk through the lifted door when suddenly someone hits the button to start lowering it, it could fall, or have high tension parts malfunction near you. It is best to avoid walking underneath an overhead door and, instead, use another door.
Make sure the door is raised to the fully open position.
Once it is up as high as it can go, a spring system counterbalances the door and helps to hold it in place. If the door is not all the way up, it may not be properly secured in position.
Keep the door in sight and free of obstructions when operating it.
Commercial and industrial bay doors are more difficult to stop than your average residential garage door. Therefore, if something suddenly gets in the way while you are trying to open or close the door, there is a greater potential safety hazard. Always being aware of what’s around the door can significantly increase the chances of accidents from occurring.
Assign repair and maintenance tasks to certified technicians.
Only allow trained door technicians, like Lux Overhead Door, to install, work on, or provide maintenance for the doors because our team has the experience to complete the work safely and according to best practices. An overhead door’s cables and springs are under high tension, so it’s important to always call a certified technician so that you know the work is being done correctly.
Following these safety guidelines will be sure to help avoid workplace injuries and accidents.
Lux Overhead Door specializes in commercial and industrial overhead door service and repair. Call today for a free estimate (306) 477 5400.