Lift Engineer vs Competent Person

A lift consultations voice by Colin Craney, Specialist Lift Consultant at SVM Associates in his regular Elevator World magazine column

Should Lift Engineers also be classed as the Competent Person?

 

In his latest article, Colin Craney looks at the moral dilemma of ‘marking your own homework’ within the lift industry.

 
Colin evaluates the two roles investigating the validity of the ‘fear of favour’ argument, and its impact on health and safety (especially when regulations 9 and 10 of LOLER fall so short after all these years); or if the skill base and qualifications of Lift Engineers should actually be a pre-requisite for the role of a Competent Person.
 
“I do not suggest that a lift service engineer cannot become an effective competent person. I do, however, argue that the competent person has a different mindset from that of the lift service engineer — and quite rightly so. The competent person does not maintain lift equipment. The duty of the competent person lies in the detection, assessment and reporting of defects.

 

Competent persons do not maintain lifts and are not lift service engineers (albeit some could, no doubt, adapt to that role). Lift service engineers are not, in my experience, competent persons (although some could undoubtedly fulfill the role).”

To read more, click the article below:

 

Lift Engineer LIfts and Escalators

Established in 2004, SVM Associates pride ourselves on our industry expertise, persistent attention to detail, personable working style and unique approach to all aspects of building services, including; Lifts, Escalators and Facade Access, Mechanical Electrical and Public Health and Facilities Management.
 
For more information or to talk to one of our expert team, get in touch today.

 

Colin Craney has 42 years of industry experience, initially in a number of field and management roles with Otis, followed by 17 years in consulting, currently for SVM Associates. Colin is a U.K. chartered engineer and a fellow of CIBSE, European engineer, chartered safety and health practitioner, accredited consultant on the HSE Occupational Safety and Health Consultants Register and a member of the Chartered Institution of Occupational Safety and Health. Colin is a barrister, having been called to the bar by the Honourable Society of the Middle Temple.

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