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Safety of lifts should be ensured
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People must be educated on the need to comply with the provisions of the Tamil Nadu Lift Act, writes C.H.Gopinatha Rao
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Photo : N_Sridharan
Risks in store: If not properly maintained, lifts become a potential hazard.
Lifts are normally safe, but the risks are more in the absence of regular maintenance. For example, the lift car may fail to stop at the correct place causing a tripping hazard while entering or alighting; the lift car doors may close or shut on the lift user while entering or the lift may simply stop mid-floor leaving the occupants suspended. At worst, the lift may fall.
In order to ensure the safety of the users a number of safety measures are insisted upon by the Tamil Nadu Lift Act 1997 and Tamil Nadu Lift Rules 1997.
The act mandates that all lift users must obtain licence from the Chief Electrical Inspector to the Government and renew them annually. It is mandatory to get the licence from the inspector of lifts and this includes lifts, which were erected even before the Act was passed.
The Electrical Inspector of each district in the Electrical Inspectorate has been appointed as the Lift Inspector.
Any one intending to erect a lift shall make an application in Form A to the inspector accompanied by documents which include drawings showing the lay out. plan, section, arrangement of doors, lift well enclosure, size and position of the machine room.
Apart from this, the number of floors to be served, wiring diagram and copy of the approval obtained from the urban local body and a chalan fee for Rs. 500/ should be enclosed.
The Lift Inspector will verify the information given and grant permission to erect the lift in Form B.
If the terms and conditions of the permission or of a licence or a direction given by the inspector are violated, a fine which may extend to Rs. 1000- and in case of a continuing contravention with a further fine which may extend to Rs. 50- every day will be imposed.
As many owners may not be aware of the Lift Act, the manufactures /erection team should insist on the owners to apply for the licence and annual maintenance. They should take up the annual maintenance only after the owners get the licence. Another important aspect is that the provision of generator should be made mandatory to ensure that the lift will not stop in the middle of the floors in case of failure of power supply.
Renewal of licence
An application for renewal should be made annually in Form G to the Inspector. This must be done three months prior to the expiry of the licence along with a fee of Rs.500 along with renewed insurance policy.
The Inspector will make an inspection and issue renewal licence in form F.
In case of an accident, the owner of the place shall give full details on Form I with a copy to the Commissioner of Police and shall discontinue the working of lift pending permission of the Inspector to resume.
Normally the owner is liable to pay compensation or the Insurance Company with whom the policy is taken may pay. In some cases the courts will decide.
Flat owners association should have insurance policy to cover the compensation and have a working knowledge of operating the lift. If necessary, they should get instructions from the maintenance firm and exhibit the emergency drills in the lift room.
The present procedure to get permission to work a lift is tedious and should be made simple.
People should be educated on the need to comply with the provisions of the Act.
The author is former National President, Institution of Valuers.
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Property Plus
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