07 Jan How finger guards are shaping the future of safe learning environments
Here at Fingersafe, we are proud to design, develop and supply anti finger trapping devices across a range of locations to reduce the risk of finger entrapment and keep individuals of all ages safe from harm.
Trapping a finger or hand in a closing door can have a devastating impact on the person affected and their loved ones. Such traumatic injuries may be widespread, but their aftermath can be particularly serious as Southampton City Council describes:
“Annual statistics indicate that over 30,000 children under the age of 15 visited UK hospital accident and emergency departments with finger/thumb injuries caused by doors and door frames with more than 1,500 needing some form of surgery. The types of injuries that may result from door incidents range from crushing, bruising and fractures to, in the most serious cases, amputation; however, whatever the outcome, every finger trapping incident is likely to cause pain and distress to a child.”
With trapping incidents taking place at school or nursery as well as within the family home and public settings, educational establishments have a major role to play in their prevention. But, how could our finger guards make a difference when promoting safe learning environments both now and long into the future?
How finger guards reduce trapping risk
Our pinch protectors are fitted along the hinge side to prevent fingers and hands from being trapped, pinched or crushed in the dangerous gap between the door and its frame, and they’re already widely used in environments where children or vulnerable people could be at risk.
By concealing the gap across the full height of the hinge side and making use of a flexible, concertina design to expand the coverage as the door opens and closes, our finger guards offer complete and continuous protection from injury. Rather than simply blocking access, the design actively ejects wandering fingers and hands from the hinge area to reduce risk further.
The use of finger guards in schools
With the important role door guards play in the prevention of painful finger and hand injuries, you’re probably thinking they’re already mandatory in UK schools and nurseries, right? Wrong!
While a recommendation by the government and countless local authorities, finger guards are not required by law in nursery, infant, first, primary, middle and special schools. What is a legal requirement is the obligation to provide a safe space for students and staff using ‘sensible health and safety management’, minimising or eliminating identified risks, including those associated with internal, external and fire-rated doors.
School doors that need your attention
While every door intended for use by students and staff should be fitted with a finger guard as standard, some locations around the school are deemed higher risk than others. National trends of previous accidents show that classroom doors, toilet entrance doors and toilet cubicle doors have the highest risk of finger trapping.
Shaping the future of door safety
Using finger guards can significantly improve door safety in schools and nurseries both now and in the future.
Alongside the prevention of pinch injuries, the installation of finger guards throughout your school is a step in the right direction when shaping the protocols that create safer facilities and influence future building design. Consistent use of finger guards sends a clear message to staff, parents and regulators that safety is non-negotiable for your school or nursery.
Ready to put the safety of your students and staff first? Explore our finger guards today or contact our team for advice.
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