ESW - 24 : Elevator (Lift) / Escalator :- Site Safety Assessment

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Elevator, Escalator & MovingWalk

Elevator (Lift) / Escalator :- Site Safety Assessment

As an essence of a safe system of work for elevator(lift)/escalator, an initial site safety assessment should be made to the work site by a person who is competent to do so before the commencement of every elevator(lift)/escalator work. Such a person should preferably be a safety professional or an experienced engineer/supervisor, with adequate experience of safety and health at elevator(lift) and escalator works. After making the assessment, the following should be identified and recorded as appropriate:

1. Safe means of access to and egress from each place of work should be provided. For example, there should be safe access to/egress from the machine room and the lift shaft, etc.
2. Rescue procedures and evacuation arrangements in case of fire, explosion, accident or other emergency situations, etc. occurring in any part of the building during the work should be provided.
3. The make and type of elevator(lift)/escalator, control system, the type of work to be carried out and other relevant information should be identified and recorded.
4. The need for putting workers to work on live electrical equipment. If it is unavoidable, the safety precautions required to be carried out for such work.
5. All dangerous parts of the machinery should be effectively guarded. The anticipated removal of machine guardings during the work and the prompt re-instatement of those guardings after the completion of the work should be clearly specified.
6. Arrangements for the use of communication equipment by the working personnel during the work should be made. Also, key words/signals to be used in the communication should be specified.
7. Arrangements and procedures for safe manual handling operations which will be taking place during the work.
8. For elevator (lift) works:
• Safe spaces/clearances under the car in the pit and safe headroom above the car at the top of its travel should be ascertained. Relevant safety and warning signs should be displayed and other safety precautions should be considered if there are only limited spaces/clearances.
• The car top control station should be functioning properly. Especially, the effectiveness of those emergency stop switch and manual control mode switch should be checked.
• The car safety gear in electric lift or hydraulic rupture valve in hydraulic lift should be checked for their effectiveness if the working personnel are required to stand or travel on the car top.
• The car top should adequately support the anticipated loads, e.g. personnel and hand tools, etc.
• The working conditions in the machine room, pulley room (if provided) and the lift well/pit should be assessed. For example, there should be adequate working space for the working personnel to manouvre especially when working at any electrical equipment where live conductors might be exposed during work. Environmental factors including temperature, ventilation, lighting and etc. inside the room and the lift well/pit should be suitable for working during different processes of work, such as the welding and cutting.
9. For escalator works:
• Safe and easy ways and access routes with sufficient headroom to the machinery spaces should be provided.
• The enclosure and supporting structure should be sound and free from defects.
• The handrail, steps, combs, drive for steps should be functioning properly. Besides, the braking system and the manual control and emergency stop switches should also be functioning properly.
• The protections against risks of overspeeding and unintentional reversal of the direction of travel should be checked for their effectiveness.
10. After making the site safety assessment, a method statement should be provided and include in particular the following:i.
• The way in which work would be performed, and the number/trade of working personnel involved in carrying out the work ( including those from the subcontractors) should be stated clearly.
• The anticipated equipment required to perform the work including the use of lifting appliances and lifting gear for mechanical handling, and the arrangements made for it to be available at the appropriate time should be ascertained and provided.
• The availability and location of secure fencing, portable access ladders, personal protective equipment such as safety boots, safety helmets, safety goggles, safety gloves, safety harnesses/ belts, secure anchorage, fittings for the safety harnesses/belts, independent lifelines and etc. should be ascertained and provided.
• The time and duration available for the work to be performed should be identified and recorded.
11. The number of parties, and the respective timing, working on the same lift/escalator installation should be ascertained.
12. Emergency procedures and facilities, including first aid, should always be made available for dealing with emergencies on site. Such facilities should be regularly maintained and upkept properly.
13. The safety and health management system for the control of the safety performance of the subcontractor(s), if any, should be effective and efficient. Reference can be made to “A guide to Construction Safety Management” issued by the Labour Department foran example of such safety and health management system.
14. The application of any of the relevant safety regulations should be identified and recorded. Compliance of those regulations should be checked.

Besides, subsequent periodic re-assessment of the site conditions should be made. For most of the time the appropriate frequency for carrying out this re-assessment would be decided by the person performing the initial assessment. Generally speaking, the following factors should be considered for determining the frequency: the nature of the task, the likelihood of changes in the working personnel, the equipment and the location of the work.

The interval decided should be specified and recorded at the initial assessment and any changes to it should be recorded. Also, any changes to the initial safety assessment after the re-assessment should be recorded as well.

When work is to be carried out for the braking assemblies of lifts and escalators, it is the responsibility of the proprietor or contractor to ensure that the work does not involve any asbestos-containing material, especially in the brake linings. Otherwise safety measures in accordance with the provisions under the Factories and Industrial Undertakings (Asbestos) Regulation should be taken.

When work is to be carried out in certain work sites which are subjected to special regulations and working practices,

e.g. power stations, gas installations, marine installations, container terminals and chemical works, additional safety requirements or permit to work systems might be required as agreed with the site management.

The safety of working personnel engaged in other activities within the working area should also be considered in the site safety assessment.