A five-year-old boy who, along with his cousin, was left pinned beneath a metal gate after it fell on them on Sunday, remains warded at hospital.
Relatives confirmed with Guardian Media that Kavish Jaimungal was still nursing serious injuries.
The incident, however, claimed the life of Jaimungal’s cousin, Krystal Laloon, who suffered face and skull fractures.
The tragedy has not only left the family from Sangre Chiquito rattled but has also once again placed the spotlight on the safe installation of the sliding barriers.
Anthony St Hill, a steel fabricator with over 40 years’ experience, said he knew all too well how poorly designed and installed metal gates can lead to devastating outcomes and it was why his blood ran cold when he heard how Krystal met her demise.
He said, “I felt really sad when I heard what happened, also, a bit of anger.”
The steel fabricator said for too long, improper installation and negligence have led to the deaths of the innocent.
He said, “It is very important to make sure the track area is clear and clean, no debris is to humbug the smooth running of the wheel.
“Also, have a look at where the roller guides are installed making sure there is no movement, you can slide the gate and make sure there is no movement because earthquakes play a part, sometimes somebody may bounce your gate unknowing to you and you will have movement, you have to be aware. People need to inspect their gates just as they will do with their vehicle.”
Kavish Jaimungal
Like St Hill, Quality Health, Safety and Environment strategic advisor Fedrison Jagessar said he too continue to witness the risks and impending tragedies posed by poorly installed sliding gates.
“More than 50, I would say maybe 75 per cent of all sliding gates that are installed have no secondary back up safety.”
According to Jagessar, home-owners are often lulled into a false sense of security by those tasked with putting up their sliding gates.
“The contractors love to tell you that we installed 100 gates like this and none ever fall off, but that doesn’t mean they are not going to.”
Jagessar contended that a collaborative approach was needed by the authorities to ensure gate are built and installed according to best standard.
An uptick in fatalities caused by falling gates several years ago, prompted the Trinidad and Tobago Bureau of Standards to develop a national policy.
The TTBS encouraged home owners to ensure a safety post was installed, a safety stop was put in place and that regular checks be done.
Standardisation manager Nadita Ramachala said the latest incident, however, had given rise to safety issues beyond the level of the national policy.
Speaking with Guardian Media she said, “We may also look at what improvements would have taken place in the local industry as well in terms of gate fabrication if there have been any updates to international standards to see how we can improve the standards we have now.”
Ramachala said developments would determine whether the national standards for sliding gates were revised.
