Max, I am a qualified lift engineer, can you please clarify some points for me. What equipment are the electricians testing or inspecting? No other services are allowed in a lift shaft. I have only ever seen Asbestos string used in the electrical trunking of very old lifts, I have never seen asbestos in any other form. Unless the lift is a wall climber (outside of a building) there is no need for Fall restraint/Arrest, normally there is a hand rail round the back of the lift where the counterweight passes, and the gaps to the sides are minimal. Why would electrical isolation be used? Existing lift entrance doors would prevent access to the shaft. The lift engineer should be fully trained and competent. If you can supply more information I can help you.

Max in that case you really do not have anything to worry about, the public will not be at risk, the lift engineers have a function on top of the lift where they have full control of it. They will drive the lift up to the top of the shaft so your engineers can service the smoke/heat detectors, they should be able to carry out this function without any problem. Shaft lights are located down the shaft at regular intervals, these should be easily accessible from the top of the lift, most lifts also have an independent light on top of the lift, so switching off the shaft lights shouldn't be a problem. If you have any further questions then I am happy to help. Contact the lift company who have the service contract, they should have all the relevant information, but be prepared to pay for a lift engineer to be on site, it can be quite costly, and there's no way around that.

In a previous existance I surveyed and analysed asbestos containing materials and I have been in lift shafts that have water servces located in them which have been lagged with asbestos in various forms, (admittedly these were old buildings and old lifts). Indeed I have seen some shafts which have been lined with asbestos panels and seen access hatches that lead from the top of the shaft to the roof plant room lined with asbestos. So please beware. Please also be aware of the potential for discarded needles in the bottom of the shaft, it is not unknown. Users have been known to discard them between the lift car and shaft where they then drop to the floor/pit.

Many Thanks everyone who has posted responses; some useful pointers that are very helpful.

I will 2nd That!

JYoung - In my view it would be unlikely that a 'specified risk' as defined in the confined spaces regs would arise in a tower block/housing lift shaft situation, although it could arise if it were say down a mine shaft.