Important Safety Rules that the Management in Hospitals must follow before Installation of Lifts are given below:
1. Installation and operation of lifts/escalators must be in full compliance with the rules/ regulations applicable in the state.
Under the provisions of Lifts Act and Delhi Lift Rules 1942, any passenger lift installed in any building except the buildings maintained by Public Works Department and MES, can be operated only after obtaining a valid license which is issued after confirming the safety of electrical installation of lift, its layout, safety mechanisms and safety gears, etc. as per the standards laid down in relevant Bureau of Indian Standards. The license to operate the lift must be renewed well in time in r/o each and every lift.
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2. Inspection of Lifts:
The lifts are to be inspected regularly as per the prescribed frequency (once a year as under Delhi Lift Rules/quarterly as under Karnataka Lifts Act) to check whether the same are being maintained properly and the safety provisions are being followed. The deficiencies detected must be attended to without any delay.
3. Automatic Rescue Device:
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Every lift in the hospital should have an automatic rescue device to rescue the passengers trapped in the lift in the event of breakdown of power supply, by bringing and stopping the lift at the nearest landing floor and keeping the landing and car cage doors open.
4. Mandatory Auxiliary or Alternate Power Supply System (Section 6):
The owner of a lift shall provide for mandatory auxiliary or alternative automatic power (generator) supply system to ensure the functioning of the lift in the event of breakdown of power supply within a time period of ten seconds.
5. Intercom Connection for communication with the security as well as the lift (machine) room for assistance in case of emergency.
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6. Emergency Alarm system: Every passenger lift must have an audiovisual alarm system to alert the security/maintenance staff for assistance in case of malfunctioning of the lift.
7. The lifts for transportation of stores, especially the biomedical waste should not be used for transportation of passengers, especially the patients.
8. Maximum Carrying Capacity displayed in every lift must be adhered to.
9. There must be a documented and well rehearsed drill for rescue of passengers trapped in the lift, in minimum possible time.
10. Maintenance of Lifts:
Operational reliability and safety of every lift must be ensured through a program of planned preventive maintenance. Ideally, as provided in the proposed Draft of Delhi Lifts and Escalators Bill 2007, the hospital should have a regular Annual Maintenance Contract with the manufacturer/supplier of the lift himself, who must issue an annual certificate confirming the safety of lifts.
11. Reporting of Accidents:
Any accident in operation of any lift, resulting into or likely to result into injury to any person is required to be reported to the Inspector of Lifts. After that the lift installation cannot be interfered with/operated until written permission of the authorized officer is issued.
12. Display of Information:
Every operating lift should have the following information displayed inside the lift for the information and safety of passengers:
a. A copy of the valid license.
b. Certificate of last inspection for fitness.
c. Maximum passenger load/capacity permitted for strict compliance.
d. Instructions for passengers (Do’s/Don’ts) (see annexure 3) in case of lift getting stuck.
e. Actions to be taken in case of any emergency.
