High Risks

Accidents involving ships’ elevators are fortunately quite rare. But when they do occur, the consequences can be severe, even fatal. Those carrying out repairs and maintenance on elevators are particularly at risk.

What can go wrong?

There are several obvious risks when working on a ship’s elevator and they largely depend on the task in hand and where it is being carried out. Incidents that have led to serious and fatal injuries include:

• Falling from the top of an elevator car
• Crushing when working on top of a moving elevator car
• Entrapment in moving elevator machinery parts
• Falling into open elevator shafts or into the pit

Lift skills prevent lift kills

To prevent an incident it is first important to identify the hazards and understand the risk. Before carrying out any maintenance on a ship’s elevator, a risk assessment should be carried out. If the task involves entering the elevator shaft or pit, or working on top of the car, a permit-to-work system is essential. 

Consider following these safety guidelines:

• Consult manufacturer’s guidance on safe operation and maintenance
• Before working on an elevator, the power must be properly isolated. Follow ‘lockout-tagout’ procedures which include either the removal of fuses or padlocking isolating switches and posting safety signage at the place of electrical isolation
• Check emergency electrical power supply arrangements are also safely isolated
• Protect the elevator machinery room against unauthorised entry
• Post signage on elevator call buttons to inform that elevator is under maintenance
• Never override or inhibit safety devices
• Never work alone on elevators. When working within the shaft or in the pit, maintain a means of communication to whoever is posted outside
• Make sure there is a safe means of access to where the work is being carried out
• The bridge, engine control room and any other parties working near the elevator should be aware of what work is being carried out and when
• Landing doors should not remain open any longer than necessary and never leave them open unattended
• Working areas should be well illuminated
• When working in an elevator pit, erect temporary barriers in front of any landing doors that need to remain open

Working on top of the elevator car presents further dangers, especially if there is a need to move the car. In addition to the above, think about the following:

• Be aware of slip and trip hazards
• Use fall prevention devices if there are no suitable barriers
• Never ride on top of the car in normal speed. Riding should only ever be allowed if there is a local control box on top of the car that has an ‘inspection’ mode. In this mode, the car can only be operated locally, and at a much reduced speed 

BS 7255:2012 Code of practice for safe working on lifts provides useful guidance and includes specific reference to local control boxes on top of elevator cars. The box should have a stopping device and be mounted in an easily accessible position so that it faces towards the landing. This should reduce the risk of accidental movement of the car when accessing to and from the car top.

Lifting the levels of safety at all times

Upon completion of work, make sure the elevator pit and car top is left clean, tidy and free from combustibles.

Finally, properly close out the permit to work and inform others that the work is completed.

If further work is necessary that requires entry into the pit or onto the car top, follow the same safety precautions no matter how quick the job is. Taking short-cuts in safety can leave you short-lived.

If you have any questions regarding safe elevator maintenance, contact our loss prevention team.

Author: Alvin Forster
Deputy Director (Loss Prevention)