The Malta Lift Association has identified, at the industrial zone of Tal-Handaq, at least six lift installations that contravene almost every provision of the LN47/1964 Factories (Lifts and Hoists) Regulations.

These lifts are installed on the facades of buildings.

The Malta Lift Association does not have powers of investigation of factory premises nor does it seek to have such powers, since such responsibility lies with the Occupational Health and Safety Authority, an association statement said.

“We identified these lifts during a simple drive around the area. They are on full view to the public and we cannot understand why no action has been taken by the authorities,” said Saviour Abela, president of the Malta Lift Association.

“These lifts put all users at risk of grievous injury or fatality. They also endanger the lives of pedestrians, because they overhang and encroach upon the public footpaths. In four of these cases, the lifts actually overhang the only entrance to the building.”

The Malta Lift Association also pointed out that the six lifts are located in a small area where two successive serious lift-related accidents recently occurred, one of them fatal.

One of the lifts is, in fact, installed on the façade of a building where, some weeks ago, a worker was killed in the shaft of another dangerous lift installation.

The lifts are prominently visible and their weathered condition testifies to their having been in place for some years.

“The continued existence, indeed the proliferation, of this dangerous and illegal type of lift calls into question the level of monitoring and enforcement being carried out by OHSA,” the Malta Lift Association concluded.