During normal operation of a roller shutter door, the gearbox failed causing it to drop. The door was raised approximately 1.2m from the floor when the drive motor failed. If this had been at a greater height with either a vehicle or pedestrian present beneath, significant damage or injury could have occurred.

This door had recently been inspected and no faults reported. However, the motor drive was old and did not have an emergency brake.

• All roller shutter doors should be part of an independent inspection regime.


• Roller shutter doors should not be used for access and egress by pedestrians. This may require modification to workplace transport risk assessments / traffic flows.


• Any damage to roller shutter doors should be reported immediately.


• Check to see if existing doors have a brake system. If not, review retrofitting the doors as soon as possible.


• Consider what type of doors you have on your sites, i.e., if single press operation (automatic), safety requirements should include a safety beam/pressure sensor on the edge of the door. This will not be required if doors are press and hold button (manual).