April 2006 Lifting the standards of safety. The Safety Assessment Federation (SAFed), in conjunction with both The Lift and Escalator Industry Association (LEIA) and the Health & Safety Executive (HSE), has updated its "Lift Guidelines - Guidelines on the Supplementary Testing of Lifts" document. The revised guidance document, previously referred to as LG1, adopts a more risk management based approach and places a greater emphasis on the role of the competent person. The remit of the guidelines has been widened to include formal guidance on the thorough examination of non-workplace lifts. Although these are not covered by the regulations, the previous LG1 document was often used as informal guidance in line with best practice principles. In addition to bringing the old LG1 guidelines in line with current standards and legislation, the updated document includes some changes in technical details to recognise more modern lift technology and maintenance techniques. The revised guidelines were launched at the Institute of Mechanical Engineers in London to a cross section of over 200 lift manufacturers, owners, duty holders and inspection bodies. Speaking at the launch event, Richard Hulmes, SAFed's Chief Executive commented. "Rather than following a prescriptive testing timetable as is currently the case, the revised guidance adopts a more risk-based approach to the timing of supplementary testing in support of the thorough examination. Under the new regime it will be up to the ‰competent person­ to justify periodicity of the assessment by considering all aspects of each lift­s operation, such as its frequency of use, workload and operating environment. Tailoring the timing of each inspection to a lift­s usage profile ensures that a more appropriate inspection regime is created. This not only increases the overall level of health and safety, but can bring major cost savings to lift owners." To ensure that the revised guidelines were as authoritative and practicable as possible the LG1 review committee was made up of leading lifting industry experts from SAFed, LEIA, major lift owners, local authorities, professional institutions and industry organisations. The review committee was chaired by the HSE which, for the first time, has formerly endorsed SAFed guidance by placing its logo on the front. Copies of the revised LG1 can be purchased through this website at a cost of £15 for SAFed and LEIA members, or £25 for non-members (all prices plus p&p). Click here for the Lifting Publications page. ENDS Notes to Editors ¶ SAFed is the UK's leading trade body for the independent engineering inspection and certification industry, and is primarily concerned with safety within the workplace. SAFed works closely with the safety authorities, such as HSE and local authorities, the dti, and other industry stakeholders and professional institutions concerned with standards and competence (BSi, RoSPA, UKAS, I Mech E, IEE, SOE etc). ¶ SAFed­s network of member companies in the UK and Republic of Ireland provide inspection services across a wide variety of industries. SAFed is able to bring this vast wealth of experience to bear by publishing a number of guidance documents, many of which have come to be relied upon as industry standard models of best practice. ¶ Working with LEIA, who represent the lift manufacturers and servicing companies, ensures that the independent inspection industry and lift servicing industry work together with a single guidance document on technical standards and safety requirements for supplementary tests. Back to Press Release Index Digital Photograph Available.