Moveman at the Height of Lift Safety in Schools

Falls from height are the single biggest cause of death in the workplace, and one of the main causes of serious injury. A workplace not only refers to an office or factory, but also shops, leisure centres and schools, many of which will have a platform lift installed. It is important therefore that safety measures are put into place to prevent falls, particularly in schools and other places where there are likely to be children present.

The 6th April 2005 saw the new Work at Height Regulations introduced. The major change was the definition of 'at height'. Previously, Work at Height adopted a '2 metre rule' - falls were only considered 'from height' if they were more than 2 metres. The new regulations state that duty-holders need to pay greater attention to minimising the risk of falling from any height.

Platform lifts are installed with or without a shaft. Generally Moveman lifts are installed without shafts if the lift travels less than 2 metres. With lifts over 2 metres, a full height enclosure is fitted, to prevent a person falling from the lift or becoming trapped beneath the unit. In schools however, people are smaller in size and more likely to fall. With this in mind, an enclosure is a recommend feature in lifts that are installed in schools, regardless of their travel. Alternatively, a key switch system, like our Designated User Control safety switch can be added, ensuring that the lift is securely parked when not in use (see 'Schools Still Switch to DUC').

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