Understanding the Importance of Lift Servicing (LOLER & PUWER)

Don’t get stuck in a lift – understanding the importance of lift servicing

You’ll likely have heard the horror stories of lifts breaking down, leaving passengers stuck until either a lift engineer or the fire brigade can release them.

For us, we understand first-hand the urgency that is involved when a lift breaks down. Even if nobody is stuck inside, the inconvenience associated with an out-of-service lift is a headache for business owners and can have dramatic ramifications for the operation of the business.

The good news is, if you understand the importance of Lift Maintenance and Servicing, the headaches and stress caused by lift breakdowns can often be significantly reduced or avoided altogether. Let us explain…

Keeping everyone safe

Depending on the industry your business is in, the lifts in your premises can be used for a multitude of different reasons.

If you have customers that visit your business, maybe with a pushchair or a wheelchair, it’s likely that they will use the lift. You may also need to transport stock or materials between floors in order to work efficiently – again you’ll need the lift.

Ensuring your lifts are serviced at regular intervals reduces the risks of potential issues, which can lead to safety-related issues and inconvenience for both your customers and your staff. In extreme cases, a poorly or unmaintained lift can lead to passenger injuries or even fatalities which is both tragic and completely avoidable.

Staying within the law (LOLER)

Do you know that if you are an employer providing lift equipment for use at work, you have regulated rules that must be followed to remain compliant?

Two of the main regulations related to lift maintenance that need to be considered are:

• LOLER (Lift Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998) places duties on people and companies who own, operate or have control over lifting equipment. Compliance for this is through regular examination (once every 6 months for passenger carrying and once a year for non-passenger carrying lifts), similar to your vehicles M.O.T which are then documented through LOLER examination reports.

• PUWER (Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998) this regulation ensures that any risks to people’s health and safety from equipment used at work have to be prevented or controlled. This means they must be suitable for intended use, safe for use in accordance with LOLER requirements, accompanied by safety measures and only used by trained people who are familiar with the equipment.

Without adhering to the two regulations set out as above, you are acting unlawfully and therefore risk severe consequences as a result. Taking regular action means that all of this can be avoided. If you’re concerned that your lifts may not adhere to these strict regulations please get in touch and we can ensure your businesses lifts are compliant.

The money side of things

Regular lift servicing ensures that potential issues that will inevitably arise can be dealt with quickly before they escalate into a larger issue. What may seem like a small problem that can wait, may actually lead to a larger fault that puts the lift out of operation for a prolonged period of time.

If your car was making a worrying noise, would you wait to see what happened or look to get it fixed as soon as possible?

Not addressing small issues could lead to a greater expense later down the line and we are yet to meet a business that wants that! Lift servicing is a great investment and one that can help prevent repair costs and ensure the health and safety of the people using it.

Make the right choice!

Hopefully, we have highlighted the key factors to consider when thinking about lift maintenance and why regular servicing will have a positive impact overall on your business and its premises.

Our service agreement solutions can be tailored to suit your business' bespoke needs and range from a “standard” service contract through to our more inclusive “enhanced” service contract. Our 24/7 emergency breakdown service is provisioned for all customers with existing service agreements, regardless of its service level.

If you are looking to engage with a lift servicing company to ensure your lift stays efficient and usable, we encourage you to get in touch with us on 01508 493708 or email us at enquiries@genesislifts.co.uk.