WHAT ARE THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE LIFT OWNER?

Lifts are amongst the very few modes of transport available for continuous unsupervised use and by all persons, ranging from the very young to the elderly and infirm. They are one of the safest forms of transport, being designed to strict and comprehensive standards. However, standards alter to reflect developing technology and social trends.

Over 40% of lifts are between 20 and 40 years old.

This is most significant when compared with technological advancement over such a time span and raised personal expectations of safety levels.

In addition to this is there is a need to provide for growing life expectancy and an increasing elderly population.

From an owner/manager viewpoint, you no doubt plan for your future needs and financial commitments. Where your lift installation is concerned, such plans will have regard for life expectancy and improvements to service as well as taking into account legislative requirements.

You will also be conscious of your responsibilities for control of the building, which impose a duty of care to ensure the premises are safe and free from risks to health, so far as is practical.

The lift owner can be the owner of the premises in which the lift is installed, the occupier of the premises or even the facilities manager.

It is the responsibility of these companies or individuals who have control to any extent of lifting equipment to ensure that the lifting equipment, premises, as well as all means of access, egress, etc are safe and without any risks to health.

LIFT CONTRACTORS RESPONSIBILITIES

While it is important that building owners are aware of their responsibilities as lift owners it is also important to be aware of the responsibilities of lift contractors. Lift contractors have duties as employers to ensure that those within their employment are not exposed to health and safety risks from their business activities. For the building and lift owner, this means that lift contractors must ensure that all employees who work on site do so safely.

This is something that cannot always be fulfilled in isolation when working on equipment belonging to others. In this regard your help and co-operation is essential. To this end a specific survey is used to highlight areas of concern or excellence to the building owner relating to site safety.

TESTS, SURVEYS AND EXAMINATIONS

One way of ensuring that the lifting equipment in particular complies with all Health and Safety legislation is to have one of the various tests, surveys or examinations carried out on your lift. The test you require will be selected based on what it is that you wish to discover.

For instance, you may wish to have a test carried out annually that checks your lift against relevant Health and Safety regulations and current British Standards legislation and provides you with information as to whether your lift is safe for use and possible improvements you may wish to consider. In this case we would recommend that a Yearly Supplementary Tests of Lifts in Service be carried out.

Alternatively, you may wish to ensure that your lift specifically complies with all current disabled access legislation and receive information regarding the steps you could take to bring your lift up to date. In this instance we would recommend that a DDA Survey be completed.

THE NEXT STEP…

LTR will be pleased to undertake any of the tests, surveys or examinations on your lift installation as called for under the management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 and advise on any safety matters about which you should be aware.

If you would like to find out more information on the types of tests, surveys or examinations for your lift that are available through LTR please click here.

Alternatively you can request further information on which test, survey or examination would be suitable for your purposes by clicking here.