The importance of following the proper safety guidelines when it comes to garage door opening systems cannot be overstated. Garage door accidents are quite common and can be prevented by following some basic rules. Keep your family safe and take the time to recognize and implement all of the following safety measures.
#1: Never Play with Garage Doors
Almost 100 children are injured every year because they were playing with garage doors. Sometimes they play games with the door closing or then like to ride them. Whatever the case, garage doors are not a toy and they can be quite dangerous. Make sure your children understand the dangers of “playing games” with the garage door.
#2: Never Rush to Get Inside Before the Door Closes
So many people get injured because they are impatient and try to rush inside before the garage door closes rather than waiting a moment to reopen it. While most garage doors do have an automatic reverse sensor that keeps it from closing it on an object, these technologies can fail. The only way that you can avoid injury completely is to never race to make it through a closing door. Don’t count on the technology stopping it because it could potentially fail.
#3: Avoid Entrapments
There is always a small risk that your fingers could get caught in between the rollers and the tracks if you try to work on the door yourself. This happens to over 100 people every year and it can lead to serious injury, including amputation! Don’t get your fingers anywhere near this area!
#4: Get your Garage Door Repaired Immediately
If there is a problem with your garage door, then get it repaired immediately. Do not procrastinate! Garage doors that are not operating properly lead to nearly 200 accidents per year. There are a number of different ways that a garage door can malfunction. It can be a sensor problem so the door will not auto reverse, thereby closing onto an object. It could be something as serious as the door falling off the tracks. In order to make sure your door is not broken, you can perform a regular inspection on it.
#5: Inspect Springs
We see a lot of people suffer injuries because their door springs are malfunctioning. They end up getting their hands stuck while performing routine maintenance or during the most unexpected of times. These areas should be inspected at least once per year by a professional. That way you are not putting yourself in danger.
#6: Perform Regular Inspections
Another common cause of accidents is that garage doors can fall off the tracks and fall, crushing anything under them. Needless to say, this can lead to severe injury or even death. The only way to prevent accidents like that is to perform regular inspections. If you find a problem, then call a professional technician to take care of it for you.
Safety starts with you. Understand the dangers that come with being a garage owner and learn to take preventative action.
