A Beginner’s Guide to Lift Maintenance
It can be pretty easy to overlook the importance of having a well-maintained lift. When you manage maintenance appropriately, it can increase the life of the equipment and maintain its reliability, safety and efficiency. If you are new to this industry and you would like to know more, you are in the right place.
Here are some of our most frequently asked questions:
Are We Obligated To Keep Our Lifts Maintained?
The answer is yes; however, parts of the legislation are unclear regarding potential liability. When a lift is installed in domestic locations, two pieces of legislation, PUWER (Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations) and LOLER (Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations), apply to the situation. This is because it is considered to be work equipment, and that requires the owner to take steps to ensure it is safe for all workers and members of the public.
The application of LOLER and PUWER implies that private owners and lifts used for the public have no one responsible for maintaining them since they are not work-related. Even so, if you own a lift, you have the responsibility of protecting others under The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations. An example of this would be property management companies and agents who hire contractors, like those from lift companies, to work in the buildings they oversee. This would make the property a work area, and lift owners need to ensure relevant safety standards. Make sure you contact a trusted provider for lift repairs in Hampshire.
How Often Should A Lift Be Maintained?
There isn’t a correct answer to this question. The frequency depends on various factors, including the number of floors being served, how many lifts are being operated and how they are used. The provider of your lift should have all the information you need about this. It is essential that you think about the fact that having your lift serviced regularly means that you will be able to minimize costs and improve the longevity of the equipment. Whether this means that you have to call a maintenance technician weekly or you can wait a few months, you must prioritise this.
What Will A Service Visit Involve?
During a visit, the safety features on the lift will be inspected. In addition, all of the components will be cleaned, lubricated and adjusted as needed. All of the work performed with be recorded and the engineer will inform you of any repairs or improvements that aren’t included in the visit. The customer should sign the report for verification after every visit. Otherwise, you may have no recourse if something happens later and you have some form of disagreement with the engineer.
What Happens If Someone Is Trapped In A Broken Lift?
The lift car has an emergency telephone that can be used to get in touch with someone if they need assistance. All reputable lift providers will place trapped passengers on their priority list and offer 24/7 emergency service. Those who do not have this in place are not worth the time or effort.
All lifts that have been installed since 1997 must be in compliance with the European Lift Directive. This includes the provision of a lift communication system. For lifts that were available prior to that, the European Standard EN81-80 has an extensive list of recommendations that will make dated machines safer. This includes adding a communication system since it is viewed as reasonably practical in most instances.