Modern Building Services

MODERN BUILDING SERVICES DECEMBER 2022/JANUARY 2023 19 FEATURE WORKING BUILDINGS On the other hand, the lift maintenance contractor may not be able to respond in a reasonable period of time dependent on where their operatives are and what they are doing. In a power cut scenario, they may well be running around releasing a number of passengers, with buildings such as hospitals and schools taking priority. So the question is a simple one – should we train owners of buildings in the art of emergency release from stalled lifts? There are two specific trains of thought in the industry – no (never) and yes! As it happens I have my foot in the ‘yes’ camp but with the condition that: 1. The person receiving the training receives regular refreshers 2. That the trainer is satisfied that the person is competent to be trained. And importantly 3. The person receiving the training must have the aptitude for the task. I don’t wish to demean people but if they don’t have the aptitude they are better off leaving someone trapped in the lift car until competent help arrives! So why not train someone at the building? If you decide to do so they should be trained properly and regularly assessed in accordance with current standards to ensure that they remain competent to undertake such a task. Unfortunately, history shows that if the process goes wrong people can be seriously injured or killed. There are also statutory obligations on lift owners as follows: • Summary of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 • Persons concerned with lifts have duties under the Health and Safety atWork etc. Act 1974 (HSWA) [10], which includes the following: A) Employers have a duty to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health and safety of their employees while at work. This includes the provision of plant and systems of work that is safe and without risk to health, means to safely use and handle articles and substances, necessary information, instruction, training and supervision, safemeans of access and egress, and a safe working environment. B) Employers, the self-employed and employees, have a duty to conduct their undertakings in such a way as to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that all persons who may be affected by the work activity are not exposed to risks to their health and safety. Summary of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 (MHSWR) [5] include a requirement (Regulation 3) that every employer and a self-employed person should make a suitable and sufficient assessment of the risks to the health and safety of themselves and others arising out of, or in connection with, the conduct of the undertaking. The significant findings of the assessment should be recorded. The purpose of the assessment is to identify and quantify the risk. Employers are expected to implement preventative and protective measures to eliminate risk. Effective control measures should be put in place to address residual risks and hazards. The regulations also include requirements on training, health and safety assistance, information for employees, and the requirements to put in place such arrangements as are appropriate for the effective planning, organization, control, monitoring, and review of the preventative and protective measures necessary. BS7255 is very specific and says that training should be provided to all persons who are authorized to carry out the safe release of trapped passengers. Such persons should be made aware that this training is limited to safe release activities only and that this does not authorize them to carry out any additional activities. Training should cover the release procedure and also possible complications that might arise during a release, e.g. failure of the procedure to cause movement of the lift car. There is also an accompanying note that says the full range of competencies contained within NVQ EOR/202 might not be required for persons carrying out the safe release of trapped passengers. The competency of all trained persons should be assessed and documented annually. Documentation should list the competencies achieved relating to the type of equipment upon which the training was carried out. Information and instructions should be given to all occupants. More information can be found at www.lecsuk.co.uk