Industry
Many lifts are defective
Almost half of lifts in Germany are defective. This is the conclusion of the plant and machinery Safety Report (Anlagensicherheits-Report) that the Association of the German TÜV organisations - Verband der TÜV (VdTÜV) - is publishing for the first time, together with its members. In a similar way to the TÜV Report on cars, this report compiles the fault statistics of the individual TÜVs within VdTÜV into one document.
The current edition of the report contains an analysis of a total of 454,617 lift inspections which were performed by inspectors from the approved inspection bodies (Zugelassene Überwachungsstellen - ZÜS) in 2009. Only 55.38 per cent were "defect free", 39.88 had "slight defects" while 4.46 per cent exhibited "safety-critical defects" and 0.28 per cent were identified as having "hazardous defects". The defects found in the lifts were analysed and summarised by the lift working group of the exchange of experience circle of the approved inspection bodies, resulting in the above statistics.
"Plant and equipment safety is extremely important for society as a whole", emphasises
Volker Klosowski, Member of the Board of Management of TÜV NORD Group and responsible for the Industry Services Division. "Lifts, pressure vessels and steam boilers have to be regularly inspected for good reason, as they present a higher risk potential for company employees. In the case of lifts, the general public are also at risk. However, it is possible to reduce these risks, and neutral inspections by independent bodies increase safety. This is the core message of the first plant and equipment safety report."
It is only when defects are consistently recorded, summarised and assessed, and conclusions drawn, that more general problems with plant and machinery can be identified and corrected. And this is the only way to keep technical rules and standards up to date.
The current plant and equipment safety report makes public statistics concerned with lifts. However, over the next few years, VdTÜV and its members also want to issue reports on pressure vessel installations and plant and equipment at risk from potentially explosive atmospheres.
The plant and machinery safety report can be ordered from the different TÜVs and from VdTÜV itself (German language version only). It will also be included with the VdTÜV annual report, which is due to appear on 8th June.
About TÜV NORD Group
With over 8,400 employees, including more than 6,600 with a technical or scientific background, the TÜV NORD Group is one of the largest technical service providers in Germany. It also operates in over 70 countries in Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas. The Group owes its leading market position to its technical competence and a broad range of advisory, service, and testing services in the Mobility, Industrial Services, International, Natural Resources and Training and Human Resources fields. TÜV NORD Group is firmly committed to its guiding principle and watchword: "Making our world safer".
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TÜV NORD Group
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