Provides recommendations for safe working practices (supported by training) for: - owners of permanently installed lifting platforms serving defined landing levels; - persons having effective control of the premises where such lifting platforms are installed; and - persons responsible for, and involved in, the design, installation, thorough examination, inspection, testing, service, maintenance, repair and dismantling of such lifting platforms.

This British Standard gives recommendations for safe working practices (supported by training) for:

• owners of permanently installed lifting platforms serving defined landing levels;

• persons having effective control of the premises where such lifting platforms are installed;

• persons responsible for, and involved in, the design, installation, thorough examination, inspection, testing, service, maintenance, repair and dismantling of such lifting platforms.

This British Standard gives recommendations for the safety of persons when gaining access to and from the area in which a lifting platform is installed and whilst working there. The recommendations also relate to the safety of others present in the vicinity, whether they are working or not, who could be endangered by the actions of those working on lifting platforms.

NOTE1 Hazards in work areas might vary, e.g. in occupied/unoccupied buildings, premises being refurbished, construction sites and industrial environments.

This British Standard is applicable to persons working on lifting platforms constructed to conform to BS5900:2012, BS6440:2011 and BSEN81‑41:2010.

NOTE2 Lifting platforms conforming to BS5900 are powered homelifts with partially enclosed carriers and no liftway enclosures. Lifting platforms conforming to BS6440 have non-enclosed or partially enclosed liftways and non-enclosed or partially enclosed carriers. Lifting platforms conforming to BSEN81‑41 have enclosed liftways and carriers that are not completely enclosed.

This British Standard is not directly applicable to persons working on other types of lifting platform, but the recommendations may be taken as a useful guide for such lifting platforms.

This British Standard does not cover:

• stair lifts;

• lifts designed under the Lifts Regulations 1997 [1];

• vertical lifting appliances with an enclosed carrier (“slow speed lifts”) designed under the Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 2008 [2];

  NOTE3 There are lifting appliances that feature a fully enclosed carrier constructed under the manufacturer’s quality assurance scheme and installed under the manufacturer’s installation instructions for which this British Standard might provide guidance.

• paternosters, mine lifts, access lifts to workplaces, theatrical lifts, appliances with automatic caging, skips, lifts and hoists for construction sites, ships’ hoists, platforms for exploration or drilling at sea, construction and maintenance appliances.

For lifting platforms that have been designed and installed in accordance with the Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 2008 [2], the recommendations that might affect product design do not apply.