Opening your garage door is typically an everyday action we take for granted. However, garage door openers can present serious dangers if not used properly. It’s crucial to understand the risks and follow key safety practices to prevent accidents and enhance security.
Garage Doors Lead to Thousands of Injuries Each Year
Garage doors are the largest moving object in most homes. The average garage door weighs between 100 to 150 pounds and moves quickly along metal tracks with powerful springs. Each year, garage doors result in an estimated 10,000 injuries that require emergency room visits. Some of these incidents prove fatal, especially when children are involved.
Clearly, garage door safety deserves more attention than it typically receives. By taking time to learn about proper garage door opener use, inspection, and maintenance, you can greatly reduce hazards in your home. This guide covers everything you need to know to operate your garage door securely.
Pinpointing the Dangers of Garage Doors
Several factors make garage door openers risky if misused. Some key dangers include:
- Getting caught underneath – Garage doors close quickly, with enough force to trap a person or pet underneath. Body parts that get caught can face crushing injuries or amputations.
- Mechanical failure – Malfunctioning springs or cables can cause the door to rapidly fall, potentially hitting a vehicle or pedestrian below.
- Unauthorized access – Intruders can exploit garage door openers to gain entry into the home if security measures aren’t followed.
- Child entrapment – Children may get trapped inside garages if the interior door gets closed while playing. Tragically, such accidents can turn deadly within minutes.
- Electrocution hazards – Contact with live wires during garage door repairs poses a severe electric shock risk.
- Fall injuries – Ladders placed too close to the opening/closing garage door can lead to dangerous falls.
Overall, garage door accidents send around 15,000 people to the ER annually, according to Stanford Children’s Health. But by cultivating safe habits and vigilance, these injuries are largely preventable.
Industry Standards for Safer Garage Doors
In response to safety issues, the garage door industry has established strict product specifications through testing and certification programs. All residential garage door openers manufactured today must comply with Underwriters Laboratories (UL) safety standards.
Specific UL requirements for modern garage door openers include:
- Pressure-sensitive safety sensors that trigger a reversal if obstruction is detected
- Maximum closing forces of 15 lbs to avoid injury
- Secure radio signal encryption for remote controls
- Auto-reverse functionality if something gets caught during closure
- Battery back-up operation in case of power failure
Adhering to UL guidelines minimizes hazards substantially compared to older garage door systems lacking safety features. But human behavior still plays a huge role in prevention.
Operating Garage Doors Safely
While advanced garage door features add protection, following sound safety practices remains essential. Here are tips for secure operation in your home:
Proper Installation & Maintenance
- Use only trained, reputable professionals for new opener installation or repairs
- Conduct an annual maintenance inspection to check cables, springs, rollers, and hardware
- Replace old cables and springs that show visible wear or damage
- Lubricate moving metal parts according to manufacturer instructions
- Check that all safety sensors and accessories function properly
Safe Opening/Closing Procedures
- Visually inspect the full door area before operating your garage door opener
- Keep garage interior doors closed to prevent child access while operating the door
- Allow the door to fully open before driving in or out of the garage
- Avoid standing directly in the opening path or walking through while the door moves
- Wait for the door to completely close before leaving the garage or driveway
Care When Using Remote Controls
- Keep remotes out of reach of children at all times
- Make sure you have a clear view of the door when using the remote control
- Immediately replace lost or stolen remote controls to prevent unauthorized access
- Avoid holding remote buttons down continuously, and stand clear of the door while operating it remotely
Extra Precautions for Manual Operation
- Use properly balanced manual force to open or close the door
- Employ slow, controlled motions to avoid sudden falling of the door
- Keep hands and fingers away from section joints, rollers, hinges and cables
- Have another person watch the door’s movement and notify you of any obstructions
What to Do If Someone Gets Trapped
- Hit any remote or wall-mounted control immediately to try triggering auto-reverse
- Manually lift the door if possible to free the trapped person or object
- Seek emergency medical care as needed for any injuries
- Diagnose and repair the cause of the sensor failure before further use
Minding these best practices goes a long way in preventing accidents around your home’s garage door system. But enhancing overall garage security is also key for greater family safety.
Bolstering Garage Security
Since garages often contain entry points into the home, it’s crucial to take measures deterring unauthorized access. Follow these tips to better secure your garage:
Lighting & Visibility
- Install exterior lighting focused on all garage doors and access points
- Trim back landscaping that obstructs visibility around the garage
- Use a wide-angle peephole, window, or video camera to see outside before opening the door
Door Controller Security
- Change default passwords on any smart garage door openers
- Update firmware/software to the latest security patches
- Register remote controls and devices to prevent unauthorized access
- Disable any app or WiFi connectivity when away for extended periods
Access Control
- Keep vehicles locked inside the garage to block access to the interior door
- Install high-quality deadbolts on the interior garage door
- Store keys, remotes and access codes away from the garage interior
- Consider adding external locks to garage side entry doors
General Precautions
- Keep garage windows locked and curtains/blinds drawn
- Store any valuables or hazardous items inside the home instead of the garage
- Never leave garage doors partially open when away from home
- Report any suspicious activity around neighborhood garages
A few simple security upgrades can make illegal garage entry exponentially harder. Avoid being lulled into a false sense of security.
New Technology Offers Added Safety
In recent years, smart integration and automation has revolutionized garage door openers much like other systems in the home. These innovations provide significant safety benefits when applied properly:
- Smart controller apps – Control and monitor your garage door from mobile devices and get notifications if operation fails or something obstructs the door.
- Video/audio monitoring – Smart garage cameras and microphones enhance visibility and allow remote inspection for anything that seems amiss.
- Lighting automation – Connected garage and exterior lights can be programmed to activate during certain hours or motion events for better visibility.
- Power outage operation – Battery backup units keep garage doors functioning if electricity goes out to avoid being trapped inside.
- Remote operation – Open or close your door from anywhere with a smart device to let in a family member or contractor if you’re not physically present.
- Activity logs – Review door operation history and diagnose problems right from your smartphone.
- Visitor detection – Integration with video doorbells and smart locks allows seamless garage monitoring when guests arrive.
When supported by safe usage habits, smart garage systems provide capabilities that significantly raise protection for your family and property. But these innovations alone don’t eliminate the need for caution.
Teaching Children Garage Safety
Given their natural curiosity, the garage poses many hazards for unattended children. Be sure to teach kids important safety lessons:
Establish Clear Rules
- Explain that the garage is off-limits for playtime or hide-and-seek games
- Children should never touch wall control panels or remote transmitters
- Make it clear to never go underneath a closing garage door for any reason
Lead by Example
- Allow children to observe safe garage door operation by adults
- Ask kids to help watch for potential obstructions before using the door
- Praise safe behavior and correct risky actions calmly
Practice Emergencies
- Show children how to manually lift the door in case of entrapment
- Role play appropriate responses, like hitting the wall control or seeking help
- Caution that garage doors can trap/injure people quickly when activated
Install Child-Proofing
- Place remotes, transmitters and controls well out of reach of kids
- Use childproof fasteners to secure release handles
- Consider installing silencer features to reduce door noise that attracts kids
Reinforce Often
- Monitor play areas to ensure kids avoid the garage interior
- Frequently repeat garage door safety instructions in age-appropriate ways
- Update guidelines as children grow and garage risks evolve
Equipping kids with safety knowledge helps curb risky behavior as they become independent. But information alone isn’t enough
Debunking Myths About Garage Door Safety
Many misconceptions still surround garage door safety, leading people to underestimate the hazards:
Myth: Newer garage door openers are designed so nothing can ever get trapped.
Truth: While modern safety features like auto-reverse sensors prevent entrapment in ideal conditions, situations like debris obstruction, mechanical failure, or snow pile-up can still permit accidents in some cases. Staying alert remains important.
Myth: Remotes use encryption, so no one else can open my door.
Truth: Even with encryption, cyber criminals could potentially intercept remote frequencies from outside your home and replicate the signal. Physically securing remotes is still vital.
Myth: The auto-reverse on the garage door will avoid injury if triggered.
Truth: Auto-reverse helps prevent full entrapment, but body parts may still be injured by the force of the closing door before sensors trigger a reversal. There is still serious hazard if trapped underneath.
Myth: Garage doors comply with safety standards, so periodic maintenance isn’t needed.
Truth: While standards improve hardware safety features, garage doors still contain springs, pulleys, and cables under high tension that require periodic inspection by a professional. Neglecting maintenance invites mechanical failure.
Myth: My pets know to avoid the moving garage door.
Truth: Pets may sit unnoticed in door paths or attempt to sneak under a closing door. Children could also open the door unexpectedly when pets are near. Always check beforehand.
Myth: The wall-mounted button immediately halts the garage door if needed.
Truth: Many wall controllers actually function on a timer, so the closing door may not start reversing immediately. Quickly hitting a remote control works faster.
Staying mindful, vigilant and informed remains your best protection against accidents. Don’t let assumptions undermine safety for you or your family.
Legal Duties for Garage Door Safety
Selected garage door safety incidents ultimately end up subject to legal proceedings and insurance claims. Understanding pertinent liability issues is worthwhile:
- Homeowners can face negligence lawsuits if someone is injured due to their unsafe or poorly maintained garage door system.
- Tenants are also obligated to use reasonable care and report issues with rental property garage doors that could pose hazards.
- Installers and manufacturers may be legally liable if equipment failures cause injury due to production flaws or improper installation.
- Parents must properly supervise children and restrict unaccompanied garage access to avoid liability for any resulting injuries.
- Home insurance policies may refuse to cover damages in garage door accidents if unsafe usage or lack of maintenance contributed substantially to the incident.
If a garage door injury does occur on your property, document all details immediately, seek medical care, and contact your insurance provider. Never assume you’re automatically shielded from liability.
On the positive side, an impressive safety record could qualify you for discounts on homeowners insurance premiums. So staying diligent about garage door safety brings monetary perks in addition to peace of mind.
Success Stories from Garage Safety Leaders
Reviewing real-world cases showcases the extent of needless hazards along with the huge impact of safety consciousness:
A Near-Miss Caught on Camera
Homeowners with a video security system were horrified to check their footage and see their 8-year-old daughter nearly crushed under their garage door after losing track of her whereabouts. Thankfully, the door auto-reversed just in time, but the close call was a wake-up call to be more diligent.
Preventing Disaster
One family was saved from potential carbon monoxide poisoning after a newly installed safety sensor notified them that their garage door had been obstructed open overnight by a fallen recycle bin. The sensor notification allowed them to close the door before going to bed, likely averting disaster.
Tragedy at a Friend’s House
A homeowner was scarred for life after a neighbor’s child became trapped under their closing garage door while playing unsupervised, resulting in a fatal injury. The tragedy led them to install new safety features and strictly prohibit kid access, sparing their own family similar heartbreak.
While complacency is common, these examples demonstrate that prioritizing safety is truly a matter of life and death. Stay observant, and don’t underestimate how garage door habits affect your loved ones.
Make Garage Door Safety Part of Your Routine
Your garage door protects your home and family, but also represents a major household hazard when used recklessly. Make safety practices like regular inspection, cautionary operation, and access control habitual for your household.
Installing upgraded safety features and technology provides added protection, but not guaranteed prevention. Stay proactive by revisiting safety procedures regularly as your family’s needs and abilities evolve. Appoint a specific family member to spearhead garage security management and accountability.
Despite our busy modern lifestyles, identifying often overlooked risks pays invaluable dividends for those we cherish most. Widespread complacency leads to preventable residential accidents daily. With a bit more awareness and care, you can avoid becoming part of this troubling statistic.
Your home deserves the very best in garage door safety. Follow the guidance in this article, and commit to making smart security decisions at each stage of life. The simplest of precautions today could end up saving lives.
