The Importance of Carrying Out Frequent Safety Tests on Passenger Lifts

For those in charge of passenger lifts, it’s vital that the correct examinations and checks are carried out regularly. These not only ensure the smooth operation of the lift system, but will also pick up any faults that could lead to accidents if not resolved. There is a legal responsibility to maintain passenger lifts appropriately so that they are safe for people to use.

 

Legal Requirements

The Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER) cover the maintenance of passenger lifts. These regulations highlight what checks should be carried out and what these entail. Regulation nine states that any lift that is used to conduct work activities must be properly checked on a regular basis by a trained person. This requirement covers lifts that are used in commercial premises and passenger lifts in retail units and residential buildings. All lifts that carry people at some point must be checked at a minimum of every six months. Those lifts that are simply used for loads only require checking on an annual basis.

 

What Is Covered in an Examination?

An examination of a passenger lift will look at a number of features of the system. This includes the car and landing doors, as well as components within the main system. The person carrying out the examination will be checking the governors, suspension chains and ropes, safety gears, braking system, hydraulics, electrical devices and the overload-detection systems. There is a legal requirement to carry out any required work straight away.

Any faults that are found when the examination is conducted can then be dealt with before they cause an accident. This will not only prevent passengers from being inconvenienced or injured, but it will also reduce the amount of time the lift is out of operation for. If problems are fixed before they become a major issue, the maintenance can be scheduled and carried out at an appropriate time. If the lift breaks down, the issue could take far longer and cost considerably more to fix.

 

Maintaining Documents

As well as ensuring that the appropriate checks are carried out in accordance with the schedule, the person in charge of passenger lifts also needs to maintain documentary evidence of these checks. This will not only include notes of what was checked and when, but also the results of the examination and any recommended works.

If a major fault is found during the examination, this must be documented. The report should show details of what was examined, the name of the employer and where the lift is located, along with when the examination took place and when the next one is scheduled for. It will then highlight what the fault was and how it should be fixed, including the date of the expected repair works and a date for the work to be checked. All records should be kept on file for a minimum of two years or until the next report.

Safety checks for passenger lifts are a legal requirement. A well-maintained lift will be safe for passengers to use and less likely to break down, reducing inconvenience for the business and customers.

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