Industry vocational qualifications – BS 7255:2023 Safe working on lifts – Code of practice
0. Introduction
BSI drafting rules preclude BS 7255:2023 from listing qualifications as part of the clauses on training and competence. BS 7255:2023 references industry guidance listing suitable qualifications for persons working on lifts, hosted on the LEIA website at www.leia.co.uk/industry-qualifications. This content lists suitable qualifications for the following categories addressed in BS 7255:2023 and in this document:
> all persons working on a lift;
> lift installation, maintenance and repair personnel;
> lift testing personnel; and
> consultants and other tradespersons.
BS 7255:2023 also has recommendations for lift inspectors and engineer surveyors and a link to www.safed.co.uk for their competency scheme.
1. General – all persons – reference from BS 7255:2023, 4.6.1
BS 7255:2023, 4.6.1 recommends that all persons working on a lift or related equipment, including within a lift well (including the pit), machinery space, pulley room or lift lobby, or carrying out risk assessments, should possess demonstrable competence in basic lift safety and procedures or be under relevant supervision. BS 7255:2023, 4.6.1 refers to this document for details of suitable qualifications:
“NOTE 1: Guidance on suitable basic levels of certified competence for various types of workers can be found at www.leia.co.uk/industry-qualifications”.
BS 7255:2023 notes that relevant supervision may be provided by any person who possesses demonstrable competence in lift safety and procedures. Suitable qualifications are listed in 2 below.
This document requires one of the following qualifications for any person working on a lift or related equipment, including within a lift well (including the pit), machinery space, pulley room or lift lobby who is not under relevant supervision:
> One of the qualifications listed in 2 below for those carrying out lift installation, maintenance and repair personnel (one of the qualifications would also be suitable for the person supervising works on site);
> NVQ EOR/202 “Working safely in an engineering environment – Basic lift safety” or more recent qualifications such as NVQ EOR/202N for those who may be accessing a work area;
> EAL Level 2 Certificate in Lift and Escalator Support Services (Qualification code: 603/6822/6A) for those involved in the following specialist lift and escalator support services:
– fitting and updating electrical and electronic systems
– strip and fit-out
– carrying out building work
– erecting and assembling prefabricated steelwork
– applying surface treatments
– removal and dismantling of lifts and escalators
– installation, removal and replacement of ropes
– installation, removal and replacement of equipment
– installing and testing protective materials
– site co-ordination.
Any persons who do not have one of these qualifications should not enter or work in a pit, in a machinery space, a pulley room, lift well, car or any part of a lift unless:
a) they are under the supervision of trained lift personnel at all times; or
b) trained lift personnel have secured the lift against movement in either direction, both electrically and mechanically; or
c) where appropriate and subject to risk assessment, a permit to work has been issued by the owner.
We strongly support the recommendation in BS 7255:2023 that all persons working on lifts should undertake continuing professional development (CPD), and should have a regular review of training needs including health and safety training, general skills training, technical training and product-specific training. Employers working to an ISO 9001 quality management system should have systems and procedures in place to support this.
2. Lift installation, maintenance and repair personnel – reference from BS 7255:2023, 4.6.3
Clause 4.6.3 recommends that persons installing, maintaining and repairing lifts should be suitably trained, qualified by knowledge and practical experience, provided with necessary instructions and supported within their organization to enable the required operations to be safely carried out, and refers to this document:
“NOTE 1 Guidance on suitable basic levels of certified competence for persons installing, maintaining and repairing lifts can be found at www.leia.co.uk/industry-qualifications”.
This document requires one of the following qualifications for a person installing, maintaining and repairing a lift:
> Satisfactory assessment of completion of apprenticeship standard ST0252 Lift and Escalator Electromechanic following either:
– Lift Installation Electromechanic option and incorporating the Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Installation and Commissioning (QCF) following an appropriate pathway in Traction lifts (ICC) and/or Hydraulic Lifts (ICD); or
– Lift Service and Repair Electromechanic option and incorporating the Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Engineering Maintenance (QCF) following an appropriate pathway in Servicing (EMG) and/or Repair (EMH); or
> Satisfactory completion of a UK recognised apprenticeship standard or apprentice framework undertaken in the employment of a lift company with an embedded Level 3 NVQ diploma in an appropriate pathway for lifts; or
> Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Engineering Maintenance (QCF) following an appropriate pathway in Servicing (EMG) and/or Repair (EMH); or
> Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Installation and Commissioning (QCF) following an appropriate pathway in Traction Lifts (ICC) and/or Hydraulic Lifts (ICD); or
> One of the following older qualifications supplemented by product-specific training:
– Level 3 NVQ in Engineering Maintenance with appropriate endorsement for Lift Servicing or Lift Repair;
– Level 3 NVQ in Installation and Commissioning with appropriate endorsement for Traction Lift Installation or Hydraulic Lift Installation;
– EMTA module/ EITB segment certification prior to the existence of the former schemes (see the LEIA Competency Plan for more details).
Other suitable certified qualifications and ways to demonstrate competence are described in the LEIA Competency Plan at www.leia.co.uk/education-and-training/leia-competency-plan/
3. Lift testing personnel – reference from BS 7255:2023, 4.6.4
Clause 4.6.4 recommends that persons testing lifts should be suitably trained in safe working procedures, qualified by knowledge and practical experience, provided with necessary instructions and supported within their organization to enable the required operations to be safely carried out, and refers to this document:
“NOTE 1 Guidance on suitable basic levels of certified competence for persons testing lifts can be found at www.leia.co.uk/industry-qualifications”.
This document requires an appropriate level 3 NVQ listed in section 2 followed by one by one of the following for a lift tester:
> A Level 4 NVQ Certificate in Performing Testing Operations in the Lift and Escalator Industry including appropriate Unit Credits in one or both of the following units:
– TLE4/005 “Performing testing operations on existing/ modernized equipment in the lift and escalator industry”;
– TLE4/006 “Performing commissioning tests on new equipment in the lift and escalator industry”.
> Older certified qualifications that can be accepted as an equivalent level of qualification include a Certificate of Verified Achievement LET01 “Lift and escalator – Tester obtaining units UC/401, UC/402” and at least one of Units UT/403 and UT/405.
Other suitable certified qualifications and ways to demonstrate competence are described in the LEIA Competency Plan at www.leia.co.uk/education-and-training/leia-competency-plan/.
4. Consultants and tradespersons – reference from BS 7255:2023, 4.6.6
Clause 4.6.6 recommends that consultants, and tradespersons such as general cleaners, glass cleaners, rubbish clearers, painters, electricians, welders, builders, who cannot satisfy the recommendations in clause 4.6.3 (section 2 above), 4.6.4 (section 3 above), or 4.6.5 should either have demonstrable competence in basic lift safety and procedures as described in 4.6.1 (section 1 above), or be under relevant supervision as described in 4.6.1 (see section 1 above).