Automatic Gates and Sliding Assemblies in New Zealand are required to have a safety cut out system in accordance with the NZ Electrical Regulations.
We are well overdue for an updated standard with countries like the UK having a series of deaths related to automatic gates making them change the way they are sold and installed.

Worksafe has investigated an incident in July 2018 where a child became trapped in an Automatic Sliding Gate, see link https://www.worksafe.govt.nz/a...

Most gates are installed with a minimum of a safety beam which is designed to reopen a gate when the beam is interrupted.
The photo below shows this is not always effective.

As you can see from the photo if a person was to put their arm through the gate as it was running there is a strong possibility for serious injury.
Most of the dangers can be designed out of the gate before it is constructed.
Safety Edges are a great way to mitigate the risk with essentially a thick rubber bump stop with an electrical connection to the gate drive which performs an emergency stop or immediate reversal of the gate.

The UK have made the gate owner/designer/installer responsible for safety and maintenance of gate systems. https://gate-safe.org/

Please get in touch with the Doormatics team to discuss safety options for your gate system.