Checklist: ensuring elevator safety compliance in the workplace
Elevators are commonly used in a workplace setting. However, unless all safety procedures are strictly adhered to, using the elevator may involve certain risks. As an employer, you are responsible for providing a safe work environment for all your workers. One way to do so is by ensuring elevator safety compliance, as outlined in the checklist below.
Almost 85,000 elevators are used in Belgium on a daily basis, with many of these due for an upgrade. These upgrades are necessary in order to increase elevator safety, an area often overlooked despite the hefty fines imposed on negligent owners.
Implement these four steps to keep your elevator(s) updated with the latest safety standards:
- Regularly analyse the associated risks
A thorough risk analysis must be conducted by an External Department for Technical Checks or EDTC in consultation with an internal or external level 1 prevention advisor every 15 years. This involves checking the stopping accuracy of the elevator, the (emergency) lights, the oxygen supply, the emergency brakes, the counterweight system and the emergency exits. They also verify whether all applicable terms and conditions of use (e.g. for persons with limited mobility) are met. - Prevent risks through maintenance and preventive checks
You will need to hire an elevator maintenance company several times a year to conduct maintenance work and to check the basic operations and functionality of your workplace elevators. The frequency of these maintenance checks will vary according to the manufacturer's requirements. Regular preventive checks should also be carried out to prevent any problems before they occur.
- Keep your safety records up to date
A safety record with all the relevant details must be kept for every elevator on the premises. These records are crucial for the smooth resolution of any problems that may arise.
- Display the necessary information in a visible location
To ensure full compliance with elevator safety standards, the appropriate signage must be displayed inside the elevator.
Any accidents must be immediately reported by filing an official accident report form with the Central Contact Point for Products (Federal Public Service Economy). In the event of a serious occupational accident, a detailed report must also be submitted to the Federal Public Service for well-being in the workplace.