September 20, 2012

PROVINCE MOVES TO INCREASE SAFETY FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES: HOWARD

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Wheelchair Lifts Now Require Inspections

Elevating devices for people with physical disabilities, except those in private homes, are now being held to the same level of scrutiny as elevators and must have regular inspections and a valid permit, Family Services and Labour Minister Jennifer Howard, minister responsible for persons with disabilities, announced today.
“The safety and security of all Manitobans is important to our government.  We want to be sure any kind of lifting device is working properly and has been carefully inspected,” said Howard.  “A person can be injured if something goes wrong regardless of whether the lift is a few feet or a few stories off the ground.”
To ensure the safety of all types of elevating devices, the elevator regulation requires:

• drawings and specifications be approved before an elevator is installed,
• initial inspections be conducted prior to a permit being issued and an elevator put into service, and
• periodic re-inspections and permit renewals based on the age and condition of the equipment be conducted.

In addition to the new rules for inspections, the province will increase permit and approval fees by about 10 per cent, the minister said, noting this is the first fee increase since 2005.  These new fees will help offset the additional workload of elevator inspectors from Inspection and Technical Services Manitoba, which is part of the Office of the Fire Commissioner (OFC).
Additional information on the changes to the elevator regulation is available on the OFC’s website at www.firecomm.gov.mb.ca.

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