specifically to breakdowns, maladjustments and
maintenance of the lift machinery. The approved lift
model is imported from overseas and installed by a
registered lift company.
The machines were supplied, installed,
commissioned by a registered lift VTS company,
and are inspected, examined and repaired by
the installer’s service and maintenance workers.
To avoid future serious incidents, registered lift
companies must be required to have an adequate
number of trained, skilled and competent workers
and qualified engineers to undertake the jobs.
It is systemic technical problems that
regulators, owners, and the vertical transportation
industry have to manage together with proper
mitigation measures put in place.
Way Forward
The following measures need to be taken to
address the problems besetting the local lift (VTS)
industry sector:
Regulatory Authorities
The various authorities responsible should jointly
streamline and modernise the existing laws and
inspection regime for VTS to keep pace with the
latest technological changes and development.
If feasible, the authorities should examine the
possibility of rationalising the VTS enforcement
and inspection regime and placing them under
the responsibility of the Ministry of Housing and
Local Government as they are in France and the
Netherlands.
A policy mandate overhaul should be made
to overcome the lift inspection backlog by the
Department of Occupational Safety and Health
(DOSH) that has been in existence for many
years. There is a crucial need for lift inspection
to be outsourced to independent inspection
parties as is the case in Singapore to solve the
lack of manpower. Under this inspection model,
Professional Engineers conduct the statutory lift
inspection before the issuance of the certificate
of fitness by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM).
This would be a better option than having the
inspection regime on lifts and escalators being
undertaken by concessionaire holders appointed
by the Government.
Lift machines that are in operation but have
not been inspected by the regulator on expiry of
the certificates of fitness can pose a hazard, risk
and danger to the public. Thus the non-resolution
of the lift inspection backlog is untenable.
Strictly enforcing the existing laws on
recalcitrant owners and registered VTS companies
and their competent persons by the authority is
essential. Strong and punitive action should be
taken against any owner or registered lift company
that flagrantly flouts the laws and licensing
conditions. Where public safety is concerned, no
favour should be shown to any party that commits
an infraction.
Building Owners
Building owners of VTS need to take ownership to
ensure the machines that are in operation within
their premises comply with the laws to ensure that
they are properly maintained, and are safe and
efficient.
Every reasonable effort also has to be made
by the owner or his representative to ensure that
the servicing, inspection and examination and
maintenance of the machines by their appointed
lift registered company are regular and properly
completed.
Proper inspection and examination records for
the machinery must be properly maintained for
the examination by the relevant authority’s officers
when requested.
Registered Lift (VTS) Companies
Accountability and responsibility shouldered by
registered lift companies and their lift competent
persons needs to be enhanced and enforced fully
to ensure that they undertake the work diligently,
professionally and in accordance with the existing
laws, and high engineering standards.
Their sub-contractors need to be similarly
qualified and registered with the enforcing
and regulatory authority. All of them need to
demonstrate to the regulators that they have in
their employment the requisite number of trained,
skilled and knowledgeable workers, technicians,
lift mechanics and lift engineers as detailed in
their official submissions. Technical personnel
employed by VTS companies should complete their
work volumes as laid down by their management
and supervisors.
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