Platform Lifts (vertical lifting platforms or lifts for people with impaired mobility). Risk of falls from height to employees/workers and members of the public.

Health and Safety Executive - Safety alert

Department Name:  
Operational Strategy Division - Public Services

Bulletin No:  
OPSD1 – 2019

Issue Date:    
18-03-2019

Target Audience:     
Platform lift maintenance companies. Owners and operators of platform lifts in a range of sectors (eg health and social care, NHS Trusts, public buildings, schools etc)

Key Issues:   
Potential danger from:

  • inadequate maintenance of door components;
  • inappropriate adjustment of door locks;
  • interference with zone bypass switches at doors;
  • unauthorised access to lift well (shaft) when the lifting platform (lift car) is at a different level

Action required:

  • carry out appropriate levels of maintenance; and
  • regular safety checks

Introduction:

This Safety Notice is aimed at:

Information is provided for maintenance companies on:

Safety devices are designed to prevent doors from opening unless the platform lift is at a landing.

Tampering with safety devices may allow the doors to open when the platform/lift car is not at the landing. This could result in a significant risk to the users of falling from height or being crushed.

Background:

Platform lifts (vertical lifting platforms), like traditional passenger lifts, provide access between floors. Platform lifts are hydraulically, or electrically powered. Usually, they operate over two to three floors. They typically rely on hold to run operation and operate at slower speeds than conventional passenger lifts.

HSE is aware of a number of incidents involving tampering with safety devices or inappropriate maintenance of door switches or unlocking zone bypass switches during maintenance. Combined with deterioration of the doors and their hinges, landing doors have opened when the platform/lift car is not at that landing. This resulted in people potentially accessing the lift well when the lifting platform was not at the same floor level/landing. This has resulted in members of the public or workers falling down the open lift well or becoming trapped beneath a descending platform.

Three incidents occurred on early model Nami-lift 400 platform lifts in the serial number range from 2433 (installed in September 1999) to 4225 (installed in December 2006). These lifts incorporate Bowden cables to control the door locks, which are more susceptible to incorrect adjustment.

HSE has identified a number of issues as a result of wear or inappropriate maintenance:

Actions required:

  1. Lift maintenance companies should ensure maintenance activities are undertaken by competent personnel; in line with the manufacturer's instructions and/or guidance; and in accordance with a safe system of work. Maintenance of the safety elements of the lift must not affect its safe operation. Modifications intended to keep a lift operating but which may result in unsafe operation must not be carried out under any circumstances.
  2. Owners and operators of vertical lifting platforms should:
    • review maintenance and inspection procedures to ensure that these tasks are carried out by persons competent to do so
    • introduce simple tests into daily checks for the lifts to confirm that:
      • Landing doors cannot be opened when the platform is not at the same level and;
      • The platform cannot travel without the doors closed and locked
        The checks should be carried out by a person who is competent to do so.

Relevant legal documents:

References:

British Standards

HSE Publications

Further information:

For further enquiries about the design or safety devices associated with elevating lifting platforms, please contact:

General note:

Please share this information with a colleague who may have this product/ equipment or operate this type of system/process.

2021-04-27