Posted By Phillipe
I suppose it is down to risk assessment and provision of training, but where do you stand on freeing people trapped in a lift? Should it be done by the lift company, fire service or a suitably trained number of people on site in which the lift operates, in this case a high street store?

Just interested as it is something I may need to address shortly.

Posted By Phillipe
To be honest Chris, that is my fear exactly. I recall an accident not that long ago whereby someone fell down a shaft when trying to free people. Can't recall the company involved but I know it happened and resulted in a fatal accident.

Posted By Phillipe
Paul

Are your insurers happy with you freeing trapped passengers in a lift, providing they have been suitably trained to undertake it and are therfor competent?

I have passed my concerns onto our insurance division about 10 minutes ago in the form of an email asking the question. Wait to see what they have to say.

Posted By IT
Discuss with your insurer and lift maintenece company to arrange training.

The person that releases any trapped passengers in a lift ,must have training in hand winding (No Power) and passenger release ,before attempting release.

Posted By TBC
When I was in the Fire and Rescue Service - we carried keys to open doors etc. The lift was always put into manual operation, a handle placed in the gear and the lift usually wound down to the next lower floor level before opening the door - this would prevent any falls from height. I suppose trained personnel could do this, but you would also have to do refresher training/practice though. You would of course have to train enough personnel to give full cover and account for holidays etc.

You could also have an agreement with a Facilities Management company to do this along with other duties. They are usually covering various operations and would be on call for any emergency.

Posted By Chris Pope
What is normally the difference between people who have been shown how to do something and have been listenoing to a course and those who do it for a living ?

Competence : that is having experience and learning from that as well as having technical knowledge and recieving instruction.

Posted By TBC
Looks like the Fire and Rescue Service is still attending calls to lifts (maybe the same lift) in Humberside and removing pigeons.

6447 Sun 26/03/06 18:15 Grimsby. Rubbish fire. Hose reel in use.

6446 Sun 26/03/06 17:50 Grimsby. Short extension ladder in use to remove pigeon from roof of property.

6444 Sun 26/03/06 17:14 Grimsby. False alarm with good intent due to mistaken identity, smell.

6440 Sun 26/03/06 15:20 Hull. Special service to release two adult males shut in lift. Lift key in use.

6434 Sun 26/03/06 14:21 Hull. Special service to release three adults stuck in lift. Fire and Rescue Service isolated lift. Lift key in use.

6433 Sun 26/03/06 13:51 Hull. Special service to car leaking petrol. Swilled away using hose reel.

6430 Sun 26/03/06 12:38 Hull. Rubbish fire. One hose reel in use.

6429 Sun 26/03/06 12:19 Hessle. Bushes on fire. One hose reel in use.

6427 Sun 26/03/06 12:00 Hull. Special service to release three adults from lift car. Lift key in use.

6416 Sun 26/03/06 08:30 Beverley. Dog trapped between two brick walls. Released by Fire and Rescue Service using Zumro cutting equipment and sledge hammer. Dog uninjured.

Well done lads (two of them mine)

Posted By pete049
Humberside Fire and Rescue still attend lift incidents and have heard nothing to the contrary.

Posted By Frank Hallett
Phillipe, Descarte [& others]

The Fire Service have never legislatively been required to attend to release people trapped within a lift car - it has always been at the discretion of the Fire Authority and could always be subject to a charge at the discretion of the CFO [as a Special Service].

The Fire & Rescue Services Act 2004 [which replaced the 1947 (amended lots)] version has essentially changed nothing on this topic.

Cats up trees would normally be referred to Trumpton or Camberwick Green if the RSPCA couldn't deal with them! Only if the RSPCA request specialist assistance would most FSs consider attending and it's never good PR to get the cat out of the tree by starvation, hose-reel jet or cutting the tree down!

Current H&S, however, does require the premises or plant controller to have suitable measures in place to release, free or retrieve persons and also to ensure that trained persons are available to do so.

Basically, it's not acceptable to use the FS as a free means of not properly maintaining the plant, equipment, etc; nor providing suitable in-house emergency response.

Frank Hallett