b'TECHNICAL SAFETY BCCONSTRUCTION ELEVATORSAND HOISTS: MAKE SAFETY YOUR PRIORITYs there an elevator or personnel hoist on yourothers at Technical Safety BCs website:I construction site? Do you know if theyve beentechnicalsafetybc.ca/state-safety/incident-investigations. maintained recently? Is your operator qualified? Weve received several construction elevators andWHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE DOpersonnel hoists incident reports involving mechanical failure, equipment maintenance and human behaviour. Technical Safety BC is an independent, self-funded organization mandated to oversee the safe installation and operation of technical systems and equipment in the province. INCIDENTS WEVE RECEIVEDIn addition to issuing permits, licences and certificates, we Between 2019 and 2020, we found that the majority ofwork with industry to reduce safety risks through assessment, incidents were due to mechanical failure, the leading causesresearch, education and outreach, and enforcement. being roller guide and drive pinion gear failures.Our regulatory oversight includes temporary elevating A number of incidents have occurred with roller guide failures.devices such as personnel hoists and the temporary use of One construction elevator incident of note is where the rollerpermanent elevators for carrying workers or materials on guides were beyond their operating life and were not replaced,site (construction use elevators). We ensure these devices are resulting in an elevator passing the lower landing and makinginstalled, maintained and operated according to regulations in contact with pit buffers. Another incident, where a wornorder to prevent injuries to workers and property losses. roller bearing failed, caused the elevator car to collide with the elevator tower structure. This highlights the importance ofDID YOU KNOW?regularly maintaining equipment over its lifecycle.Construction hoist operators must have a certificate ofInvestigations of construction elevator failures have found thatqualification before they can work on a construction site.drive motor gears tend to fail prematurely due to improper maintenance and repair practices. Construction hoists typicallyTechnical Safety BC offers two certificates of qualification: have up to three motor gears to help raise and lower the lift.Personnel Hoist & Construction Elevator Operator and If one motor gear fails, all need to be replaced to preventCar Switch & Construction Use Elevator Operator. premature failure. It is the contractors responsibility to ensure that all In 2018, we received an incident report where a hoist operatorworkers onsite are trained and qualified to perform was accessing the top of the elevator car; when the car was setregulated work.in motion, his head became entrapped. The operator was not authorized to access the top of the car at this time. Remember:REPORT AN INCIDENT OR HAZARDonly authorized personnel are allowed in car tops. If you notice any hazard or incident related to regulated Learn more details about these incident investigations equipment, we want to know. Report hazards or incidents Worn roller guides likely the cause of minor elevator injuryto us by calling 1-866-566-7233 or through our website, and Hoist operator injured on construction siteamongtechnicalsafetybc.ca. You can remain anonymous if you wish.32 SOUTHERN INTERIOR CONSTRUCTION ASSOCIATION'