What is a Thorough Examination of a Lift?
A thorough examination of a lift is an assessment carried out by the competent person to detect any defects that might make the lift unsafe. The examiner should also be able to assess how serious those defects are and what the effect might be on continued safe use of the lift.
Thorough Examination: Elevator Testing Essentials
Thorough examinations are more detailed than statutory inspections and must cover all parts of the lift that can affect safety. This includes the lifting mechanism, mast forks and chains, attachments (like safety cages and barrel clamps), brakes and steering. The competent person may also look at other things, like general maintenance and condition and if the equipment has been subject to damage or extended periods of non-use.
All lifts must be thoroughly examined before they can be used for the first time and after any repairs or extended periods of non-use. In addition, supplementary tests can be required to supplement the thorough examination of a lift, for example, in cases of weather conditions or if a lift is being moved between sites.
A thorough examination of a lift is not the same as regular maintenance, but if the competent person finds that there are significant issues with the lift they must report them immediately and re-examine it as soon as possible. It is worth remembering that if you neglect to inspect your equipment or fail to report any defects you could be prosecuted under PUWER regulations. For this reason it is important to implement a system to track the results of any thorough examinations and supplementary tests.
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