When you are ultimately responsible for the welfare and safety of everyone who enters your business premises, it certainly pays for you to be vigilant. That should also include you encouraging your staff and anyone who enters your building to report anything which they feel is unsafe or in need of attention.

One part of your building where what we have just outlined will be most crucial is your commercial lift or lifts if you have more than one. Whilst commercial lifts are by design extremely safe, that safety is compromised if regular maintenance is not undertaken, or repairs and refurbishments do not take place when the condition of your lift warrants them.

The significance of that last paragraph should not be underestimated, and we are sure most business owners do not shirk their responsibilities concerning safety. However, where the intentions may be good, there could be a lack of knowledge regarding knowing what signs to look for that would suggest your commercial lift requires refurbishment, or in extreme cases, needs some or all of it to be replaced altogether. Here are 5 of those signals.

People Using The Lift Report Hearing Strange Noises

When anything mechanical starts making odd noises it is a sign something is amiss, and this certainly applies to a lift. Whether it is making strange noises that no one can pinpoint the reason for, or it is making excessive noise when it is operating, it is a clear sign that remedial action is required. An inspection and a repair is the most likely course of action unless the issue is such that a complete refurbishment is recommended.

Recently The Lift Has Broken Down On Several Occasions

We have to accept that most technical and mechanical products will break down at some point in their lifespan, however, when it is a lift it can be a concern. Whilst a lift engineer can usually have a lift fixed and working again if you are having to call them out on several occasions, then the omens are not good. Ultimately it may prove to be prudent, safer, and more cost-effective to instigate refurbishment or replacements rather than constant repairs.

The Lift Travels And Operates Slower Than It Used To

In truth, just about everything that moves slows down as it gets older, and unfortunately it could happen to your lift. If people are reporting the lift is ‘Slow’, check first that it is not simply a result of more people using the lift at peak times meaning more floor stops. Beyond that, if the lift moves slower than normal, or the doors seem to take an age to open or close, then a call for a lift engineer to inspect your lift is needed.

The Lift Starts And Stops With Jerking Movements

Commercial s lifts that carry passengers are meant to provide a smooth and easy means of moving up and down the building. If, however, those using the lift report that it jerks at the start and end of each journey, then you need to take action. This is especially important as if one of those jerks is significant enough to cause an elderly or disabled passenger to lose their balance you are on thin ice concerning ensuring their safety, so get the lift checked as soon as possible.

The Lift Is Not Stopping Exactly Where It Should

This can happen on a sliding scale which causes anything from inconvenience to a serious risk to passengers using the lift. At one end you might have someone trip as they exit or enter as the lift is not 100% aligned with the open doors. A trip might not seem like a huge problem in isolation but if someone falls as a result of tripping and others subsequently fall on top of them you could have a serious incident so get this issue checked immediately.