Remembering Semelia and Karolina

This month marks 10 years since the tragic deaths of Semelia Campbell and Karolina Golabek, who lost their lives in two separate accidents, both caused by an unsafe automated gate. In each case, the accident could have been prevented had the appropriate safety protocol been followed. This terrible turn of events was the catalyst for the inception of Gate Safe, our founding mission has always been to put a stop to any further injuries … or worse, as a result of the failure to correctly install and maintain an electric gate or barrier.

Our founder and key members of the team remember the events that led to the commencement of the Gate Safe campaign back in 2010 ...

Richard Jackson, Founder

{{Seeing the destruction and sadness wreaked by the untimely and tragic deaths of young Semelia and Karolina is something I will never forget. The loss of Karolina’s father - Josef – who died less than a year after the accident which took Karolina’s life – is testament to this as many said that he had ‘lost the will to live’ after Karolina passed away. So, in reality, when a child or loved one is killed in an automated gate incident, the damage goes well beyond claiming the life of the actual victim, it also inflicts irreparable and lasting heartache on the family and friends of the deceased.

While we have campaigned tirelessly since both girls died within weeks of each other, the simple fact is more still needs to be done to avoid a repeat of this and similar tragedies.

In ten years, while we have seen a decrease in the number of accidents relating specifically to the absence of the requisite safety features, there has been a steady increase in falling gate incidents, which suggest a failure to ensure the safety of the original mechanical structure of the gate. Education and training are the only way in which we can drive home the importance of adhering to the appropriate safety protocol to deliver a safe gate.

It is easy to avoid scrutiny by adopting the belief that the safety of a gate is solely dependent on the installer. Wrong. Gate Safe’s mission is to educate EVERYONE involved in the gate automation process to help them understand the fundamental safety precautions that must be taken to ensure a safe installation. The more people that are informed on these matters, the less likely it is that an unsafe gate will be accessible to another young child. Ultimately, we agree that the owner of the gate, whether it is the owner of a commercial building or the resident in a housing development – needs to be reassured that an automated gate on their premises is compliant with current guidelines. Gate Safe does exactly what is says on the tin. If people know a gate has been Gate Safe approved – just like the Gas Safe campaign – they will know that it has passed all the relevant checks and standards.

Ten years on we also have the benefit of being able to refer to the dim view taken by the courts of anyone who is found to be negligent. Our hope is that, if for some reason a company chooses to ignore the ongoing messaging regarding the need for specialist training, they may perhaps take notice of the fact that their negligent actions may cost them dearly – both in terms of a hefty fine and possibly even a jail sentence. Both of which will have a major impact on both their personal and professional lives ….

We need to carry on the good work. Karolina’s and Semelia’s families will never be the same but if all the professions unite, we can do our best to make sure no further families endure the same suffering.}}

Rob Williams, Training & Technical Advisor

{{I first got involved with gates and automation early in 2003 when I started working for Jacksons Fencing as an automation engineer. I was trained on the job to install and maintain many varied systems and then specialised in fault finding and planning complex installations, progressing to become the automation workshop manager. I enjoyed working under Richard Jackson’s leadership and was horrified the day he came to tell us about a tragic gate accident that claimed a child’s life. Sadly, a second fatal accident occurred just weeks later. From that point on we all knew things must change.

I was involved on the technical side of Gate Safe from the very beginning and I had my Gate Safe manual by my phone in the workshop from its first publication, using it for reference and to pass on advice to others. Time was moving on and Gate Safe was growing fast, to the point where both Richard and Tammy decided to leave the fencing company and concentrate full time on the charity.

Eventually I had the opportunity to join Gate Safe taking on the role of Technical and Training Advisor.

Going out into the world to meet all the wonderful people involved in our industry is my highlight. The company car certainly has had some miles put on it! Training events, seminars and surveys are my main activities- no two are ever the same. Keeping up with the ever-changing technology is a challenge and I really appreciate the feedback from our members about their choices of equipment and solutions to the problems that they encounter.

Working for a charity gives me an enormous sense of wellbeing. We are not ‘in it for the money’ and the feeling of us helping to prevent further accidents involving automatic gates helps me sleep well at night.

Here’s to the next ten years …}}

Tammy Jackson, Director

{{It’s hard to believe that Gate Safe has been in existence for ten years … After the two tragic deaths of Semelia Campbell (June 2010) and Karolina Golabek (July 2010), my MD Richard Jackson (we were both working at Jacksons Fencing at the time) scheduled a meeting to discuss what had gone so terribly wrong and how we could prevent it happening in the future. We had the best team in the board room that day, all bouncing ideas off each other to identify what could be done from a range of perspectives. The common view was that we all agreed we couldn’t simply sit back and allow this to happen again. How could our industry be responsible for such deaths and no-one take action to change this?

That day changed our lives in ways we couldn’t have known at the time. Our first Gate Safe Summit in September 2010, at the Institute of Directors in London, further galvanised our thinking. We knew that there was much to be done throughout the whole supply chain and we also realised we would have an uphill battle to alter the perception of gate safety within our industry. But we remained resolute that now, more than ever before, it was imperative that steps were taken to place automated gate safety higher up the agenda.

Not to be deterred by hard work and many a door being firmly shut in our faces; we developed the first IOSH approved Gate Safe Aware training programme in 2012 alongside becoming a registered charity. From the Safety Summit we had an ally early on in the guise of John Lacey, the former VP of IOSH and John was instrumental in bringing the training to fruition along with its delivery at our hosted events.

2015 brought in changes for Gate Safe when Richard and I both decided to give Gate Safe the attention it deserves, and we separated from Jacksons to become 100% impartial and independent. For me I received a reduced salary and Richard gave his time completely free of charge for the charity. I’d like to add that to this day he still continues to work on a gratis basis, that kind of dedication should not go unnoticed especially as he has officially retired now!

Today we are proud to have trained almost 2000 people, offer impartial site surveys, provide help and run an advice line where we do our best to provide answers in plain English as to the problems installers and gate owners are experiencing. We are a slightly bigger team than the four of us who started in 2015, but the original Gate Safe team of Richard, Carla, John and I still remain in place ten years on. We now also have two new additions, Rob and Lauren who were also part of that initial meeting way back in 2010. The desire and our passion for safe gates has only increased and we are still determined to make a change and realise our strap line Making Gates Safe!

On a personal note, ten years is a long time, but the families should know that their children may be gone but they are not forgotten by us, they are and always will remain at the forefront of everything we do.}}