Do you legally have to install door finger guards on every door in your school? No law requires every school door to have finger guards. But schools can’t ignore the risk of not having one.
Staff and pupils open and close doors all day in schools and nurseries. Young children, in particular, can get distracted when playing or running around and may not notice the danger near the hinge side of a door. That is the part where serious finger injuries are most likely to happen.
That is why products like Safety Assured’s Door Finger Protector are so useful in education settings. The system covers and protects the hinge side, which is the main area where finger trapping accidents mostly happen. Schools and nurseries can substantially reduce the risk of painful and avoidable injuries by securing this part of the door.
The Door Finger Protector is a modular system that helps schools meet their legal safety responsibilities and practical duty-of-care needs. Because options are available for both hinge cavity and hinge pin protection, schools can choose the right type of cover for different doors and areas.
The hinge area is usually the most dangerous part of a door. This is where the door can trap fingers when it opens or closes. This can happen in a moment for young children and can cause painful, potentially life altering injuries.
Safety Assured’s range reflects this by splitting protection into two practical types:
You can get Hinge Cavity protection for standard and large doors as well as non-standard doors and frames like PVCu, steel, aluminium, glass and bi-folding doors.
You can also get a Hinge Pin protector, which works alongside the Door Finger Protector and fully covers the hinged edge of the door.
Not every school has the same type of doors. Some sites have older timber classroom doors, while others have glass-panel corridor doors. Some sites even have specialist doors, non-standard frames or wider-opening doors. A door hinge finger protector is only useful if it fits the doors on site and covers the risk.
That is why a modular system can be more practical than a universal-size product. A standard product may not suit every door type and that can leave gaps exposed.
A modular system gives schools more flexibility because it allows them to:
match protection to different door sizes and materials
cover both hinge cavity and hinge pin risks
protect a wider range of door types across the site
A good place to start is by looking at the doors children use every day and spotting where hinge-side risks exist. Check the areas where children gather or use doors without close supervision. These are the places where finger protection will be most necessary.
When checking your site, be sure to check:
classroom doors
nursery and early years doors
corridor and toilet doors
entrance and exit points
gates in outdoor play areas
Safety Assured also supplies Gate Cap protection for low-level gates. It complements the main finger protection range by protecting the top of the hinge cavity on gates, which can also trap small fingers.
Visit the Safety Assured website to explore the Door Finger Protector range or call their team for advice on the best option for your site. Safety Assured also offers site surveys, installation and maintenance support.