These regulations stipulate how you should handle and maintain Lifts, Escalators and Passenger Conveyors on site. These regulations must be read in conjunction with the OHSA. Some of the more important definitions to note in this regulation are: “Access goods lift” “Accredited authority” “Competent lift mechanic” “Competent operator” “Competent lift service provider” “Escalator” “Lift” “Material hoist” “National Building Regulations” “Passenger conveyor” “Registered lift inspector” These definitions must be read in conjunction with the OHSA.
This regulation sets out scope of the applicability of these regulations.
Compliance Obligations?
If you carry out work or have on your premises, lifts, escalators or passenger conveyors, then these regulations must be complied with.
You may not install, use or permit the installation of a new or used lift, escalator or passenger conveyor unless you have complied with these provisions of these regulations.
Compliance Obligations?
You may not permit the installation unless:
• You have submitted a completed form in the form of Annexure 1 to the relevant provincial director who must allocate an official number to the lift, escalator or passenger conveyor;
• You have been allocated an official number as mentioned above;
• Such installation meets the requirements of these regulations and complies with the relevant standards and specifications that have been incorporated into these regulations as per section 44 of OHSA, namely SABS 1543 and SABS 1545.
No person shall permit the use of lift, escalator or passenger conveyors unless that person is in possession of a valid comprehensive report. A comprehensive report means a certificate in accordance with the abovementioned health and safety standards.
The user of a lift that does not operate automatically must appoint the operator as to the dangers of its operation.
This regulation stipulates what the requirements are with regard to the design and construction of lift, escalators and passenger conveyors.
Compliance Obligations?
The design and construction of lifts, escalators and passenger conveyors as well as any modifications must be done in accordance with the standards incorporated into these regulations, namely SABS 1545-1991 and SABS 1545- 2 – 1991.
All electrical components of lifts/escalators/passenger conveyor which is stalled in a location where there is a danger of fire or explosion due to the presence, occurrence or development of explosive or flammable atmospheres or where explosive articles are manufactured, handled or stored must comply with regulation 8 of the Electrical Machinery Regulations as well as the Explosives Regulations.
The provisions of this regulation specify what particulars need to be complied with in terms of lifts, escalators and passenger conveyors.
Compliance Obligations?
You must ensure that all every lift, escalator and passenger conveyor is marked in the machine compartment, in a conspicuous place with the following particulars:
(a) the name of the manufacturer;
(b) the year of installation;
(c) the year of modification;
(d) the official number;
(e) the rated speed in metres per second; and
(f) the rated load in kilograms.
Where the machinery of more than one lift, escalator or passenger conveyor is installed in a compartment, you must ensure that all the machinery and switch-gear of each unit are distinctly and permanently marked with the same distinguishing mark, which shall differ from the distinguishing mark of the machinery and switch-gear of any other unit in that compartment.
You must keep an up-to-date, legible and schematic electrical wiring diagram in respect of every lift, escalator or passenger conveyor in a safe place in the machine compartment.
You must affix, in a conspicuous place at the main landing of every group of lifts and in each car and at every group of escalators and passenger conveyors, the name and telephone number of the competent lift service provider.
This regulation stipulates under what circumstances you are required to do inspections and tests with regard to lift, escalator or passenger conveyor and the frequency of these tests.
Compliance Obligations?
Inspections and tests must be inspected and tested in accordance with SABS 1545-10-1992, Part 10 as well as SABS 1543-1991.
The inspections and tests must be done:
• before such lift, escalator or passenger conveyor is put into use for the first time; or
• after any modification has been effected; or
• after any failure has occurred; or
• whenever there has been a change in the competent lift service provider; and
• at intervals not exceeding 24 months thereafter, or at shorter intervals according to in-house risk assessment, by an inspection service provider who shall complete a comprehensive report separately for each lift, escalator or passenger conveyor so inspected and tested, and such inspection service provider shall date and sign such report and submit it within 30 days to the user, who shall keep the report in a safe place and a copy of the report in the machine compartment.
If an inspection or test carried out by an inspection service provider on a lift, escalator or passenger conveyor shows that any defect or weakness exists whereby persons are endangered, the inspection service provider must report such defect or weakness forthwith to the user, the competent lift service provider and the provincial director, and no person shall be conveyed or allowed to be conveyed in or on such lift, escalator or passenger conveyor until such defect has been rectified to the satisfaction of the inspection service provider.
A comprehensive report for a lift, escalator or passenger conveyor will be completed when:
• the lift, escalator or conveyor is put into use for the first time;
• any modification to the lift, escalator or conveyor has been effected;
• a reportable incident in terms of section 24 of the Act occurs;
• there is a change in the designated competent lift service provider; and
• at intervals not exceeding 24 months thereafter.
This regulation stipulates maintenance requirements must be adhered to in respect of lifts, escalators or passenger conveyors.
Compliance Obligations?
You must designate a competent lift service provider to examine and maintain a lift, escalator or passenger conveyor at least once a month or at such longer intervals as may be prescribed by the manufacturer of such lift, escalator or passenger conveyor.
At an examination, the competent lift service provider shall examine the parts of a lift, escalator or passenger conveyor as prescribed by the relevant manufacturer or by an inspector.
In the case of a lift, he or she shall test all the gates and door locks at each examination.
The suspension ropes of a lift shall be examined at six-monthly intervals and the lift safety gear, over speed governor and buffers shall be tested at intervals not exceeding 12 months.
If during a maintenance test it becomes evident that a weakness or defect exists whereby persons are endangered, the competent lift service provider shall report the weakness or defect immediately to the user and the provincial director, and no person shall be conveyed in or allowed to be conveyed in or on such lift, escalator or passenger conveyor or to enter such access goods only lift until such defect has been rectified to the satisfaction of an inspection service provider.
Lifts, escalators or passenger conveyors must not be in use and prevented from starting if it is likely to be dangerous to persons.
The user of a lift, escalator or passenger conveyor and the competent lift service provider responsible for the examinations or test shall immediately notify the provincial director in writing of the name and address of the competent lift service provider carrying out such examinations or tests.
The competent lift service provider must notify the provincial director and the user immediately in writing if a lift, escalator or passenger conveyor is found to be in operation without a valid comprehensive report.
This regulation details what the necessary requirements are with regard to record keeping.
Compliance Obligations?
You must keep in a safe place in the machine compartment of every lift, escalator or passenger conveyor a record in which the following must be entered:
• his or her name, address and telephone number;
• the name, address and telephone number of the competent lift service provider designated by him or her to carry out the maintenance and examinations and tests;
• a report on the results of every examination and test, which includes any modifications, repairs, adjustments and tests carried out;
• a copy of the latest comprehensive report;
• a copy of all suspension rope certificates and the results of the examination on the condition of the suspension ropes;
• the registers or files and the technical dossiers required in terms of the relevant SANS specifications;
• the commissioning acceptance report or copy thereof required in terms of the relevant SANS specification; and
• a copy of each comprehensive report made in respect of incidents in terms of section 24(1)(c)(iii) and (iv) of the Act.
You must keep records in the relevant machine compartment for a period of at least 10 years.