Lifting safety standards
June 1st 2004

John Patey, technical director of Britannia Lift looks at the health and safety challenges facing the goods lift industry as business shifts towards supplying main contractors In the last decade the shift towards supplying main contractors, as opposed to end-users, has presented lift manufacturers with many challenges. Among these challenges are the specific health and safety requirements that this closer relationship with the manufacturing industry has brought with it. Health and safety is a major consideration in all sectors of industry, especially warehousing and retail. Todays culture of liability, together with ever more stringent regulations, has meant that health and safety is an increasingly major factor in the design and installation of all warehouse applications, particularly goods lifts. This closer relationship with main contractors has bought the goods lift manufacturers under the jurisdiction of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations of 1994. Planning supervisor Under the CDM Regulations, the client is required to appoint a planning supervisor responsible for co-ordinating the health and safety aspects of design. Lift manufacturers are required to supply health and safety policy, details of the staff health and safety training received and, more specifically, how the design requirements stipulated in section 13 of the regulations will be met. Section 13 requires the designer to avoid any foreseeable health and safety risks related to the operation of the lift as well as those that could arise during installation or subsequent maintenance. Under these regulations, it is essential to maintain full documentation and record all installations as fully as possible. With over 40 years experience, detailed records of every lift made since the 1960s and a directly employed installation team, Britannia can not only substantiate its basic designs but also has the skills to eliminate at source any potential health and safety risks relating from the installation, operation and maintenance of the lift. The company also maintains an extensive technical library to further strengthen its documentation and customer support. Since regulatory compliance also demands that the workforce meets certain criteria, training is a must. Britannias site engineers have received specialised health and safety training and are now all accredited under the Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS). The aim of the CSCS is to register every competent member of the workforce across the UK construction industry not currently on a skills registration scheme. The CSCS card also provides evidence that the holder has undergone health and safety awareness training or testing. For the lift industry, this certificate is currently being administered by the Lift & Escalator Industry Association. Under the scheme, all staff need to have verified skill levels in their specific trade and must also pass a multiple choice health and safety test covering both general issues and those specific to the lift industry. To show they have met the requirements, site staff are issued with an individual identification and registration card (similar to a credit card) which is carried at all times and is valid for three to five years. Basic safety features Whilst the technology behind goods lifts has remained relatively unchanged over the last 40 years, there have been many advances relating to their safety. Each goods lift should incorporate several basic features that ensure the safety of its operatives. Electrical interlocking gates ensure the lift cannot be operated unless the safety gates are properly secured whilst pipe rupture valves and an independent braking system prevent the lift from falling in the event of a sudden loss of pneumatic pressure. We believe that as well as each lift having the latest safety features, all staff that will be operating a lift, including the contractors who are installing it, should receive training on how to operate it both correctly and safely. Overall, it is clear that the shift towards supplying main contractors has presented lift manufacturers with a number of challenges. Goods lift manufacturers can rise to those challenges by providing a flexible and comprehensive service with highly qualified and well trained engineers to work closely with contractors and customers. By striving for standards that surpass regulatory requirements and customer expectations, there are an equal number of rewards for the improvement of business operations. Having learnt a number of valuable lessons, Britannia is well poised to look ahead to the future.

More articles from Britannia Lift Limited: