Lift Safety Inspections

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