Passenger lifts play a more and bigger part in most modern structures to ensure that all residents may move about comfortably.
The very few forms of transportation that allow for continuous, unsupervised use by all people, possibly spanning from the very young to the old and infirm, include passenger elevators and escalators (including moving walkways).
Many people do not consider conventional passenger lifts and escalators to be a risk to employees and others because it is a routine daily activity. As a result of their high and thorough design criteria, they are among the safest modes of transportation.
As far as it is reasonably practical, lift owners or duty holders (such as employers) have a specific obligation to safeguard the safety of individuals using escalators or lifts and prevent any foreseeable problems from happening.
In addition to the obvious risks to people who use escalators and lifts on a daily basis, people working on equipment and people involved in testing lifting equipment and lift maintenance work, such as specialised lift engineers or staff members of the insurers inspecting the lift for insurance verification purposes, are especially at risk.
10,000 people require a trip to A&E each year due to accidents involving lifts and escalators. In this guide we’ll talk you through the lifting equipment regulations and the passenger lift safety rules employers should be aware of.
6 safety rules for passenger lifts
- LOLER inspections
The Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations (LOLER) and the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations apply to passenger lifts and chair lifts, which are technically lifting devices used by employees in the workplace (PUWER).
LOLER Statutory Inspections are a legal requirement for lifts in public and commercial buildings.
However, lifting equipment that is not provided for or utilised by persons while they are at work will typically not be covered by either LOLER or PUWER. Examples of this include stair lifts in private residences and platform lifts in stores and shopping centres that are used for customer access. However, the companies that supply this equipment will be accountable for its security (it will require routine maintenance and inspection).
Serious defects
The competent person conducting the thorough examination is required to verbally notify the responsibility holder, who may be the employer or the person or organisation in control of the premises, as soon as major faults are discovered. The written report should then come next, and a copy of it needs to be given to the appropriate enforcing authority.
Such examinations and inspections are crucial, and their significance can never be understated. For this reason, the individual conducting the examinations and inspections must be qualified.
Access to dangerous machinery
The duty holder must take the necessary steps to restrict access to harmful machinery for escalators and lifts (in line with PUWER regulations). It is necessary to restrict access to the hazardous equipment in the equipment plant room.
Most of the time, this may be accomplished simply by keeping the door to the plant room shut and posting the appropriate notices. The provision of insulating mats in front of electrical equipment should be taken into consideration. Equipment in the plant room must be guarded to protect anyone working in the space.
Maximum loads
The safe working load must be established and displayed in a suitable, noticeable location in order to ensure the safe use of a lift. Most often, this is done by placing a health and safety sign inside the lift car that specifies the maximum weight and number of people that can be transported.
Emergency procedures
For potential lift and escalator accidents, it’s crucial to have the right emergency measures in place.
The most frequent incident involving elevators is the elevator getting stuck. The fundamental actions to be taken in these situations will be to make sure that:
- Establishing a service agreement with a lift engineer that includes call-out conditions.
- In the event of a lift malfunction or breakdown, there is a mechanism of contact from inside the elevator.
- There are established plans for releasing people from the lift.
- To assure the availability of assistance, plans are made to use internal workers (for hand-winding, for example), including training of such equipment and a staff rota.
- Plans are made to include outside engineer assistance, as well as after-hours service for cleaners and other building tenants.
Insurance requirements
The frequency and scope of examination may be specified in a policy condition since passenger lifts will be covered under the employer’s insurance plans and occasionally a separate engineering insurance.
If there is any ambiguity as to what any terms entail, it should be clarified right once because failing to follow the underwriters’ criteria could result in the insurance becoming void.
Passenger lift safety rules FAQs
How often do passenger lifts need to be serviced?
In order to keep your lift safe, dependable, and effective, the majority of elevator companies advise getting it serviced every 12 months. Typically, this service comprises a visual inspection in addition to checking the elevator’s drive system, door safety systems, and operation functions.
What causes a lift to stop?
The electricity going out is the most frequent cause of an elevator not working. This could be the result of a short circuit that cuts power to the elevator only, leaving the rest of the building operating normally, or it could be the result of a building-wide outage.
What is the first step in planning a lift?
Analysing the load’s weight, size, lifting points, and centre of gravity is the initial stage when considering lift installation.
Looking for Expert Lift Servicing?
Here at Future Lift Services we are experts in lift regulations and undertaking maintenance for a wide range of lifts including passenger lifts.
We offer high-quality lift installation, repairs, and maintenance & servicing for all types of businesses and buildings across the UK. A lift servicing visit can be completed by our team of certified engineers at a time and date that works for you, causing the least amount of inconvenience to your business.
Contact us right away for additional details about our lift servicing packages. We would be pleased to talk about your unique needs and provide you advice on how to proceed with your lift.