Synergizing Safety and Health for Lifts Maintenance WSH Challenges at Work Places

WSH FORUM FOR FM SECTOR 2018 Synergizing Safety and Health for Lifts Maintenance WSH Challenges at Work Places 03/10/2018 James Lee President, SLECMA (Singapore Lift & Escalator Contractors & Manufacturers Association) SLECMA. All rights reserved.

Contents 1.0 Introduction of type of lift and workplaces 2.0 Safety challenges at the workplaces 2.1 Access route to lift machine room 2.2 Lift machinery space 2.3 Car (car top inside lift shaft & inside car) 2.4 Lift pit (inside lift shaft) 2.5 Lift lobby (areas outside lift car) 2.6 Demanding work environment 2.7 Summary of hazard at maintenance workplaces 3.0 Risk Management of lift maintenance works 3.1 Cultivation of administrative controls into working habits 4.0 STC Recommendation SLECMA. All rights reserved. 1

1.0 Introduction of type of lift and workplaces Your premise is our workplace Hazards at the workplace not only expose lift technician but also others around the vicinity. SLECMA. All rights reserved. 4

Contents 2.0 Safety challenges at the workplaces 2.1 Access route to lift machine room 2.2 Lift machinery space 2.3 Car (car top inside lift shaft & inside car) 2.4 Lift pit (inside lift shaft) 2.5 Lift lobby (areas outside lift car) 2.6 Demanding work environment 2.7 Summary of hazard at maintenance workplaces SLECMA. All rights reserved. 5

2.2 Lift machinery space Good Practices in lift motor room Exhaust fan with guarding. (cooling for machinery and workers) Cooling fan in motor room for workers. Worker perspiring in motor room environment. SLECMA. All rights reserved. 15

2.3 Car (inside car) Do not work on the top rung. Work below the top rung. Note: Lift owner to co-operate by providing a space in the premises for the storing of ladder. SLECMA. All rights reserved. 17

2.5 Lift lobby (areas outside lift car) Good Practices at lift lobby Door stopper from preventing door to shut accidentally. Light barricade used to warn public against any unauthorized entry. Note: Lift owner to co-operate by providing a space in the premises for the storing of lift barriers. SLECMA. All rights reserved. 22

2.6 Demanding work environment Duration of Maintenance working time means Equipment Downtime. Users are unable to use the lift. Hence at time hard negotiation for sufficient time to execute the works safely according to established Safety Work Procedure. Co-operation from lift owner Allow sufficient time for maintenance work and troubleshooting. SLECMA. All rights reserved. 23

2.7 Summary of hazard at maintenance workplaces Hazards Car Machinery spaces MAINTENANCE AREAS Pulley spaces Areas outside lift car Lift pit Car top Unauthorized entry Inadequate lighting (including access) Uneven floor surface (holes, projection) Slippery floor surface Strength of the floor Unsuitable dimensions (passages, maintenance places) Unexpected movements More than one lift car in the same area Manual handling SLECMA. All rights reserved. 24

2.7 Summary of hazard at maintenance workplaces MAINTENANCE AREAS Hazards Car Machinery spaces Pulley spaces Areas outside lift car Lift pit Car top More than one maintenance person working Absence of a means of communications Ventilation and temperature for persons Dangerous substances Entrapment Means/controls for rescue operations Fire Legend: Not relevant Relevant SLECMA. All rights reserved. 25

3.0 Risk Management of lift maintenance works Risk Assessment (RA) is conducted to identify, evaluate and control safety and health risks prior to the commencement of the lift maintenance work. ELIMINATION Most effective Eliminate all hazards Example 1: Using remote tripping device at outside hoist way to activate the governor installed inside the hoistway. Example 2 : Design access to machine spaces as per requirement of SS550 (clause 4.2) SUBSTITUTION Replace the hazard by one that presents a lower risk Example: to bring the batteries up to the machine room by a lifting basket instead of carrying them by hand and climbing up the cat ladder at the same time. SLECMA. All rights reserved. 26

3.0 Risk Management of lift maintenance works ENGINEERING CONTROLS ADMINISTRATIVE CONTROLS PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE) Least effective Physical means that limit the hazard. Example 1: Design safety railings along passageway to the roof-top machine room if the passageway is near edge of the roof. Example 2: Provide safety guards at rotating parts. Follow procedures/ instructions strictly. Example 1: Put up appropriate and effective safety signs and warning signs at workplace. Example 2: Conduct Kiken Yochi (KY) meeting and use voice confirmation at work. PPE considered as last line of defence. Example: Wear safety boots to protect the toes from small falling objects or injury from slips and falls when the floor is wet and slippery. SLECMA. All rights reserved. 27

3.1 Cultivation of administrative controls into working habits Display warning signs. Conduct Kiken Yochi (KY)/ hazard prediction meeting. Voice confirmation. Call and Echo when working at car top or lift pit. Kiken Yochi (KY) is a Japanese methodology used to predict hazards and sharing of hazard information and its countermeasure among team members. Or even as self reminder of the hazards when working alone. Since this is practice daily before commence of any maintenance works, it has become a working habits for safety. SLECMA. All rights reserved. 28

3.1.1 Habit of Voice Confirmation Scenario (1): 1 man at cage-top and team mate at in-cage. To operate lift UP A (A): say Slow Down [wait for (B) to echo] (B): say Slow Down (echo) B (A): say Down and then Press Down Button to operate the lift. IN CAR Both team members are aware of each other s action that might endanger their safety and even cost their life. SLECMA. All rights reserved. 29

3.1.1 Habit of Voice Confirmation Scenario (2): 1 man at lift pit and team mate at in-cage. To operate lift down. CAR TOP (A): Slow Down B (B): Slow Down (A): Down (B): Say Down and Press Button for down IN CAR A A SLECMA. All rights reserved. 30

3.1.1 Habit of Voice Confirmation Scenario (2a) 1 man at lift pit and team mate at in-cage. To STOP the lift operation CAR TOP IN CAR B A When (A) commanded STOP, (B) immediately release button to stop lift Then (A) to activate Pit Stop Switch to inhibit the lift. A SLECMA. All rights reserved. 31

3.1.2 Habits of Must Not Do The following items are Must Not Do: 1. Operating the lift at rated speed when a person is on cage top or in lift pit. 2. No voice communication of the next action and echo from team mates. 3. Allow team mate at in-cage or motor room to operate the lift when working at car top. 4. Working outside perimeter of car top working area without fall prevention system. 5. More than 1 team of workers working at different levels at the same time. 6. No safety barricade at the working floor entrance. 7. Work in lift pit without inhibiting the lift operation. 8. Leaving the lift door opened and unattended. 9. Leaving lift motor room door opened and unattended. SLECMA. All rights reserved. 32

4.0 STC Recommendation Recommendation 1 : Better Jobs to attract Singapore Residents to join the industry An improvement in work environment and conditions will fundamentally make jobs in the industry more attractive Create better jobs STC encourages all stakeholders, especially building owners and lift companies to proactively explore measures to improve work condition and environment of lift industry. Possible measures include: Better luminance level within lift shaft Improved ventilation within the lift shaft and lift motor room Improved productivity with technology adoption. Note: STC: Lift and Escalator Sectoral Tripartite Committee, co-chaired by BCA and NTUC SLECMA. All rights reserved. 33

END Synergizing Safety and Health for Lifts Maintenance WSH Challenges at Workplaces Acknowledgement Member companies of SLECMA for contributing of photographs at workplaces. WSHC Work Group for Guidelines for working safely during maintenance of electric passenger and goods lifts. Lift and Escalator Sectoral Tripartite Committee s Recommendations for the Lift Industry (18 th Sep 2018). SLECMA. All rights reserved. 34