Vertical Lift Services North West (VLSNW) provides the best lift installation services, maintenance, and regular checks. When it comes to lifts, we imagine tall buildings, many floors, and 24/7 use of lifts. Passenger lifts and loader lifts are standard for a person to travel across different floors or carry heavy stuff. These lifting equipment are meant to be subjected to H&S regulations, and these measurements should be implemented. We at VLSNW review and implement these regulations to ensure the passengers’ safety and client satisfaction.
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Lift Safety Regulations
All lifts, such as passenger or carrier lifts used in different workplaces, are subjected to the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations (LOLER) and also the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations (PUWER). All the equipment used by or provided for people is subjected to LOLER and PUWER to ensure the safety of users. To meet the requirements of safety and conformity, this large equipment must meet the safety regulations 2008 or Lift Regulations 2016 in their design, construction, and installation.
Safety Requirements for passenger lifts
The lifts used in workplaces such as factories and industries are passenger lifts and goods-loading lifts. These lifts must periodically undergo detailed inspection and examinations according to the regulations of LOLER and PUWER. But for this thorough inspection and assessment, a competent person is required who can identify and report the defects in the lift mechanism accurately and efficiently. After the evaluation, that person must send the written report to the leading corporation.
Thorough inspection and examination
VLSNW provides the number one lift installation, maintenance, inspection, and refurbishment services. But what about the detailed reporting of the equipment? We conduct regular, thorough examinations of the lifts and their critical safety parts to rule out defects or malfunctions that can occur. These detailed inspections are performed by a competent person, who is then obliged to complete a written report and send that to headquarters. The report must contain the information according to schedule 1 of LOLER.
- The date of examination
- The next date when the examination is due
- Any malfunctions or defects found which can lead to a critical situation
That competent person must also verbally define the whole inspection and assessment of the lift to the supervisor or in charge present.
Lift safety and malfunctions
The first thing that should be ensured after lift installation is lift safety and regulations. So the competent person doing the inspection must report verbally to the deputy head who supervises the organization. We at VLSNW provide an expert for the examination and assessment of the lift all according to the H&S Regulations. This inspection holds great importance for the safety of passengers, and it should never be ignored, as minor defects and malfunctions can lead to chaotic situations. If all the H&S regulations are met, and regular detailed inspections are scheduled, the chances of lift malfunctions become nearly zero.
Public passenger lifts
The regulations of LOLER and PUWER mainly apply to the passenger lifts used in the workplaces by the employees. These regulations don’t apply to the public charges, but that doesn’t exclude them from the safety regulations. The employers are responsible for the health and safety measurement of the public they don’t employ and those involved in lift maintenance.
Difference between Thorough Examination and Maintenance
Inspection of these equipment is mandatory for them to work efficiently. But let’s clarify that the services provided along with the lift instalment differ from the thorough examination and inspection. We at VLSNW provide our clients with comprehensive reviews and analyses for which we provide a competent person who is generally the equipment operator or the maintenance personnel. The reporting after the assessment determines the frequency of inspections and refurbishment the lift will need annually.
Who is a competent person, and what are the requirements?
Who is competent enough? There are no written requirements for a competent person except those in the Code of Practice approved by LOLER. According to this:
- The competent person should have practical and theoretical knowledge about the lift machinery and its working, so they can assess the machinery accurately to rule out defects. Doing this can ensure safety.
- Another thing that should be considered is that the competent person is independent and impartial to the fear of favour. So it doesn’t matter if another organization employs that person.
Why Implement Health and Safety Procedures?
VLSNW provides a range of services after installing the lift in your workplace. This also includes the thorough and detailed examination implemented by the H&S regulations. These procedures are subjected to the lifting equipment in the lift industry, as any malfunction can cause a chaotic situation. To prevent the crisis, you should implement these regulations on the lift you are installing. What critical problems can occur if you ignore these safety regulations:
Locked in their homes:
In tall buildings with numerous flats or a significant elderly population, the installation of lifts is mandatory. However, in the event of a lift malfunction or breakdown, residents can find themselves trapped within their apartments. These circumstances have the potential to escalate into a crisis, as individuals may remain confined within their buildings for extended periods – spanning days or even weeks. Considering that the elderly are at a heightened risk of falls when attempting to navigate stairs, lift breakdowns become a prominent issue that needs addressing.
Disability Access:
Lifts are a necessity for disabled persons who do not live on the ground floors. But if the lift breaks down, they will have no means to travel to the ground floor. They will be imprisoned in their home due to the negligence of authorities in implementing health & safety regulations.
Stuck in the lift:
Neglecting a detailed examination of a residential lift increases the chances of malfunction and breakdown in the future. The safety and well-being of the passenger will be compromised. It will be a traumatic experience for the passengers if the lift breaks down while they are trapped inside.
Misuse of lift:
Elevators represent a category of equipment that frequently experiences heightened usage. They are susceptible to instances of misapplication, mistreatment, and disregard. Consequently, machinery of this nature, which operates incessantly, necessitates routine and thorough inspections to eliminate the possibility of flaws or malfunctions.
Complete breakdown
Over the long term, a neglected lift can quickly lead to a full breakdown of the carriage and machinery within the shaft. This could easily cause significant damage to users and the building surrounding the lift.
Risk Assessment
Lifts are valuable tools that assist all users in their movement. Nevertheless, it’s important to recognize that their presence doesn’t eliminate the potential risks stemming from neglectful behaviour. These hazards might arise from malfunctioning equipment or user actions, such as:
- Wearing clothing that is not securely fastened
- Using trolleys or carrying large items
- Misuse
- Going over suggested weight limits
Additionally, the risks associated with using these facilities are amplified when elderly or disabled individuals make use of them. To ensure the maintenance of health and safety standards and compliance with regulations, it is essential to carry out thorough risk assessments, meticulous inspections, comprehensive testing, and detailed examinations.
Maintenance Activities and Lift Safety
Compared to the H&S regulations, the lifts’ in-house maintenance activities are essential. A safe system is to be formulated with an additional isolation or lock-off mechanism for the safe working of the equipment and functional operations. This system can prevent any accidental power supply to the lift during maintenance and the health and safety of the operators can be ensured.
Health and safety regulations:
Lifts that we use in our workplace are subjected to rules and measurements, which are;
- Management of H&S in a work management
- Provision and use of work equipment regulations (PUWER)
- H&S (safety signs and signals) regulations
- Work at height regulations 2005
- Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations (LOLER)
With all these rules and regulations, the appointed contractor must also be assessed to ensure that health and safety are not compromised.
Following the safety precautions creates a good impact on the industry. If we are talking about VLSNW, then we make sure to implement safety procedures according to the regulations of H&S and ensure the safety of our client and all the passengers that are meant to use it. In other words, it leads to a safer working environment creating fewer hazards and promoting user satisfaction.
Yes, there is a clear difference between checks during maintenance activities and detailed examination of lifts. Both have their importance and play an essential role in the safe operations of the lifts and ensure the safety of the passengers.
Yes, lifting equipment needs thorough inspection and examination as any defect in this machinery can lead to a chaotic situation. Negligence in the regular detailed examination of these lifts can increase the risk of breakdown for passengers as well as operators.
Yes, a thorough examination of lifts can only be done by a specific competent person. There is no written requirement about the competent person except that they should have practical and theoretical knowledge about the working and operations of the lift so that they can efficiently assess the lift and provide a written report.
