As a property owner or manager, you are responsible for creating and maintaining a safe environment for all building users. Lift safety is a significant part of your agenda, and you should always bring in a qualified lift engineer to carry out any installation, maintenance or repairs. When it comes to the safety of your staff, visitors, customers and/or residents, there is no risk worth taking. So, here’s everything you need to know if you are in charge of a building with one or more lifts.
1. Compliance is not optional
It may seem obvious but lift compliance is absolutely essential for all properties with lifts. Firstly, the HSE states you must schedule regular LOLER (Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations) thorough examination.
Lifting equipment must be inspected by “appropriately supervised” and delivered by “a competent person.” The thorough examination is when the lifting equipment is checked in a number of scenarios, including:
- before first use (unless there is a valid Declaration of Conformity made less than 12 months earlier)
- where it depends on installation, or re-installation / assembly at another site
- where it is exposed to conditions causing deterioration, liable to result in danger
Along with LOLER, you may need to organise a PUWER Inspection, which becomes necessary for lifts in a commercial environment. Like LOLER, PUWER compliance is a legal requirement. Failing to meet LOLER and PUWER’s standards could put your business, employees and visitors at significant risk.
While the HSE doesn’t state a specific fine for non-compliance, we do know that companies have received six-figure fines for infringement. In one such example, Renault was fined £250,000 for LOLER and PUWER infringements. So, don’t take the risk and make sure lift compliance doesn’t slip off your to-do list.
If you’re not sure about lift compliance and which inspections you require, get in touch with us to book a consultation.
2. Maintenance is necessary to ensure maximum safety
While compliance is a legal requirement, maintenance is dictated by you, the building owner or manager. With many financial pressures on landlords following COVID, lift maintenance might take a backseat, with some buildings closing lifts rather than fixing them when they do break.
Regular lift inspections from an expert like Rise will save you money in the long term, as you will spot potential problems earlier. This way, you can budget appropriately throughout the way and negate any risks of lift downtime should your lift go unmaintained and, ultimately, break down.
So, while poor lift maintenance might not bring the immediate financial threat of non-compliance, it can be very costly in the long run.
3. Lifts don’t have to plain and boring
A little lighter than the other two points we’ve already covered, it’s time to talk about lift interior design. More often than not, property owners and managers will invest heavily in the space’s interior design, but completely miss the lifts. When, in reality, your lift is probably where your building users are passing through several times per day, so why not make it a pleasant space to be?
At Rise, we love murals and photo walls inside lifts. But anything that captures your attention and makes you feel more comfortable is a win, especially as many people are nervous about small spaces. So, your lift doesn’t have to be plain or boring.
Need some more ideas? Take a look at this lift interior design project we carried out at Alnwick Infirmary. Read the case study here.
4. Educate your team
If you have a commercial property, it’s definitely worth ensuring your team is well aware of lift safety and even knows how to deal with the unlikely event of being stuck in a lift. Of course, if you keep up with regular inspections and maintenance, then the chances of this happening are low – but not impossible. Therefore, it’s beneficial to have an educated and safety-conscious team.
Passenger release training is a great place to start – book your first team session today.
5. Look no further than Rise Compliance
As you’ll have learned by now, owning or managing a property with one or multiple lifts comes with many responsibilities. Lift safety isn’t just about ticking a box one or two a year; it’s an active part of your building management protocol, and, if done incorrectly, you might be at risk of receiving a hefty fine, or worse, put your building users at risk.
That’s why Rise Compliance is the best contact to have when it comes to lift safety. So, to chat about lift compliance, maintenance, repairs and training, get in touch with the Rise Elevator team today.