Overhead doors are everywhere in industrial settings, and we are so used to them that we forget how dangerous they can be. Large springs counterbalance the door, but like any mechanical part they can fail without warning and cause severe injury.
How Do You Work Safely Around Overhead Doors?
Keep people out from under moving doors and never leave one partway open.
- Avoid using overhead doors for pedestrian traffic and use a man door instead, and if a door must be used for foot traffic, install a positive locking system to prevent unintended movement
- Never drive through a door opening while the door is still in motion
- Never leave a door partially open, since the springs do not hold as well and equipment can strike the door, so doors should be fully open or fully shut
- Use visual barricades to remind people not to walk through an open door and to make operators dismount to move them, which gives time to check for hazards
- Install physical barriers where a door leads to a drop, such as a loading dock, if it is left open
- Schedule regular maintenance and have only qualified, authorized people perform repairs or adjustments
What Are the Signs of a Damaged Overhead Door?
Catch these warning signs before a door fails.
- Improper spring tension
- Frayed or rusted cables
- Seized rollers
- Debris in the tracks or uneven tracks
- Inconsistent or delayed opening or closing
- Unusual sounds or creaks
