It is a requirement by law for the employer/owner to have a Thorough Examination (Safety Inspection) conducted on lifting equipment, before first use, regular every 6-months and after an major repair or modernisation, by a competent person that can exercise an independent judgement in relation to the safety of lifting equipment in accordance with Safety, Health & Welfare at Work (General Application) Regulations 2007, as amended (Regulations 2007).
 
Currently market research shows that of the approximate 30,000 lifts installed in the Republic of Ireland, approximately 20,000 lifts currently do not receive a regular  thorough examination by a competent person.
 
Image that 2/3 of the cars on the road are not NCT’ed.
 
You might ask, why are the lifts not receiving these Safety Inspections?
 
There a number of reasons identified but the main reasons appear to be:
 

• Employers/Owners are not aware that this is a legal obligation;
• Employers/Owners of lifts belief that this is covered as part of the maintenance agreement that they have in place.

 
The Guidance to the Safety, Health & Welfare at Work (General Application) Regulations 2007 (regulation 53) states that a Thorough Examination (Safety Inspection) is separate to maintenance and that the safety inspections (Thorough Examination) needs to be conducted by a Competent Person that can exercise an independent Judgement.
 
Lift Inspect provide the service of Competent Person conducting these Thorough Examinations and are independent, impartial and the have technical competency.
 
http://www.hsa.ie/eng/Safety_Alerts/2011/Passenger_and_Goods_Lifts/
 
http://www.hsa.ie/eng/Publications_and_Forms/Publications/General_Application_Regulations/Gen_Apps_Work_Equipment.pdf

Prior to putting a new lift in service, a lift needs the following documentation in Ireland:

1. Report of Thorough Examination by Competent Person that can exercise an Independent Judgement;
2. A record which Building Regulations have been taking into consideration into the design of the Lift (i.e. Fire, Evacuation, Disabled Access);
3. Declarations of Conformity for the Safety Components as installed (Depending on type of lift but as a minimum there are 5 No. Declarations for Safety Components);
4. Declaration of Conformity for the EU Type Approved Model Lift;
5. Final Declaration of Conformity by the Installer;
6. Test & Commissioning Report;
7. O&M manual;
8. Electrical Drawings as installed;
9. Shaft Lay-out Drawings as installed;
10. Logbook.

 
​This documentation should be kept with the lift at all times.
 
The appropriate place for this documentation is in the motor room or for motor room less lifts in the control panel or on top of the lift cabin.
 
This documentation should be in a proper binder and the owner of this documentation is the Employer/Owner of the Lift.
 
The logbook should reflect any works, repairs, replacements, breakdowns, inspections and has to reflect the entire history of the lift. Therefore, Logbooks that lift maintenance providers use should stay with the lift even if the Logbooks needs to be renewed or maintenance provider changes.
 
All documentation & logbook needs to be maintained for the entire lifespan of the lift and needs to be with the lift at all times.

​Prior to putting a new lift in service, a lift needs the following documentation in Ireland:

• Report of Thorough Examination by Competent Person that can exercise an Independent Judgement;
• A record which Building Regulations have been taking into consideration into the design of the Lift (i.e. Fire, Evacuation, Disabled Access);
• Declarations of Conformity for the Safety Components as installed;
• Declaration of Conformity for the EU Type Approved Model Lift;
• Final Declaration of Conformity by the Installer;
• Test & Commissioning Report;
• O&M manual;
• Electrical Drawings as installed;
• Shaft Lay-out Drawings as installed;
• Logbook.

 
This documentation should be kept with the lift at all times.
The appropriate place for this documentation is in the motor room or for motor room less lifts in the control panel or on top of the lift cabin.
This documentation should be in a proper binder and the owner of this documentation is the Employer/Owner of the Lift.
The logbook should reflect any works, repairs, replacements, breakdowns, inspections and has to reflect the entire history of the lift. Therefore, Logcards that lift maintenance providers use should stay with the lift even if the Logcard needs to be renewed.
All documentation & logbook needs to be maintained for the entire lifespan of the lift.

Look out for this safety inspection sticker next time you are in a lift. This sticker signifies that the lift currently receives regular safety inspections.
Pay close attention to the date on the sticker, this indicates when the next safety inspection is due.
All lifts in Ireland are required to have a safety inspection once every 6 months.
These inspections are carried out to insure the safe and smooth operation of your lift experience.