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63
Complaints respecting lack of a reasonable temperature or overheating
have been reported and received attention.
The inspection of hoists and lifts under the Offices, Shops and Railway
Premises (Hoists and Lifts) Regulations, 1968, has continued. All adverse
reports on hoists and lifts made by specialised Inspectors are investigated.
During the year 50 adverse reports were received on manually operated lifts
and 39 on electrically operated lifts. In connection with these reports, visits
were made to the premises concerned and notices subsequently served upon
the persons responsible for the maintenance of the lifts. On reinspection 46
notices have been complied with and in the remaining cases the most
urgent defects had received attention to enable the hoists and lifts to
operate in a safe condition.
In bank premises of recent construction the means of access to the
lift motor room was so dangerous that the lift mechanics refused to enter the
lift motor room until improvements were made. Notice was served on the
Company to provide a fixed wall ladder, with divided lightweight flaps in
the ceiling access, the flaps to be fenced when in the open position.
Two dangerous lifts have been withdrawn from use and sealed up by the
persons responsible.
In a large motor room of a multiple store, space was being used for the
storage of goods. There seemed to be no control over staff to prevent the
access of unauthorised persons with consequent grave risk to them. Stringent
action has been taken forbidding its use as a store, and entry to the
room, except by persons authorised specifically in connection with the lift
maintenance.
In an endeavour to ascertain the number of hoists and lifts in the
Borough to which the Act applied, a circular letter was addressed to appropriate
companies and others whom it was thought to concern. Replies were
received that indicated that a minimum of 600 hoists and lifts exist to which
the Regulations apply. It is hoped, that the appointment of an additional
Inspector will facilitate the administration and enforcement of the Hoists and
Lifts Regulations, and also the safety requirements of the Act relating to the
ingress and egress of lift motor rooms.
The Regulations require that reports on lifts made by competent persons
must be preserved and kept readily available for inspection for at least 2
years after the date of the report. It would seem that this requirement was
made with intent to require the reports to be kept on premises in which the
lift is operating, but dispute has arisen at some local offices where it is
contended that the reports must be kept at their principal or registered office
only. In most cases the Company concerned has co-operated by forwarding
to the Department copies of the lift reports In its possession. In other cases
co-operation is less satisfactory and it may be necessary to seek legal
enforcement to secure a sight of such reports.