BS 7255:2001 - Page 2

Code of practice for safe working on lifts

Recommendations for safe working practices on lifts.

This British Standard provides recommendations for safe working practices (supported by training) for:

- owners of permanently installed lifts serving defined landing levels;

- persons having effective control of the premises where such lifts are installed;

- persons responsible for, and involved in, the design, installation, thorough examination, inspection, testing, service, maintenance, repair and dismantling of such lifts.

The recommendations in this British Standard cover the safety of persons when gaining access to and from the work area on a lift installation, and whilst working there. They also cover the safety of others present in the vicinity, whether they are working or not, who could be endangered by the actions of those working on lifts.

This edition of the standard takes into account the following developments since its 1989 edition:

a) tradespersons having an increased awareness of hazards and therefore taking more care over their actions;

b) employers and owners now positively striving to provide ever-safer workplaces;

c) changes in UK legislation;

d) the emergence of Harmonized European Standards, in particular BS EN 81-1,

BS EN 81-2 and BS EN 81-3;

e) the trend away from prescriptive clauses, towards risk assessment methodology as the basis for determining safe systems of work;

f) the delineation of responsibilities for safety management, between the owner and the lift industry itself;

g) changes in training requirements;

h) the need to have a code of practice that covers lifts of any age, whether or not they conform to current British or European Standards.

This British Standard supersedes BS 7255:1989, which is withdrawn.

It draws attention to the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 1994 for lift designers, planning supervisors and architects. This code of practice is recommended for use alongside these regulations.

This standard includes the following cross references:

BS 5378-1, BS 5378-3, BS 5655-6, BS 7375:1996, BS 7671:1992,

BS EN 81-1:1998, BS EN 81-2:1998.