SAFed – Safety Assessment Federation
The Safety Assessment Federation is the UK's leading trade association for the independent engineering inspection and certification industry. All SAFed full member companies are accredited by UKAS to formal international standards to provide Thorough Examination services by a competent person to national regulations (LOLER, PUWER, HSWA etc.).
They do not maintain, service, supply or manufacture equipment, ensuring customers receive fully independent, comprehensive and professional service. SAFed also provides advice, guidelines and publications acknowledged as best practice within the industry.
> Guidance for the Lift Owner or 'Duty Holder'
This section contains notes on good practice which, unless they are part of the legislation, are not compulsory but which may be helpful in considering what a lift owner or 'duty holder' should do. They are intended to supplement the legislation and the approved code of practice and guidance advised by the Health & Safety Executive.
> Lift Owner or 'Duty Holder'
The owner or 'duty holder' is a person designated responsible for the safe and suitable operation of the lift. It would normally be a facilities manager or supervisor, but could also be a tenant's association in a residential block or other such organisation responsible for (funding) ensuring the safety of the lift. The owner of the property in which the lift is situated would normally be responsible if no such other person or group had been appointed.
> Duty of Care – General (all lifts)
Everyone has a responsibility to take reasonable steps to avoid acts or omissions which would be foreseeable as injuring other persons. Lift owners or duty holders have a specific responsibility to ensure the safety of others while using the lift. In particular they are responsible for the safe use of the lift, which includes its safe operation, condition (maintenance) and compliance with relevant statutory requirements.
They may be required to explain to the authorities how these responsibilities have been discharged. This is usually by way of providing evidence of a regular servicing and maintenance regime together with a record of periodic thorough examinations by a competent person. The duty holder is responsible for ensuring the person undertaking the examination is competent. SAFed member companies train, underwrite and only employ competent persons to carry out thorough examinations in a safe manner and are accredited to do this by the sole government recognised accreditation body (the United Kingdom Accreditation Service – UKAS).
> Other Relevant Information
Further information, including the role and specific responsibilities of lift duty holders, can be gained from the HSE website (visit the 'links' section of this website)
SAFed also provides advice and guidance to the industry. Lift Guidance 1 (LG1) is specific guidance for the competent person carrying out the thorough examination (not the servicing engineer) in calling for supplementary tests to ensure the continued safety of the lift. It is not mandatory but would be an integral part of the thorough examination.