Occupational Health and Safety Act XXVII of 2000 requires that adequate levels of safety be ensured in all workplaces at all times. It is the responsibility of every lift installer and of every lift owner to ensure that any work on or use of lifts is carried out in the safest possible way. Employers and workplace owners are obliged to carry out a suitable, sufficient, and systematic risk assessment of each workplace.

The identification and assessment of risk is a costly and time-consuming procedure that, if inadequate, may not eliminate all potential hazards and may lead to dire consequences. In a bid to facilitate the implementation of these mandatory risk assessments, the Malta Lift Association - an affiliate association of the FOI - commissioned TuV Austria to carry out a model risk assessment covering the different circumstances that must be addressed in relation to lifts, namely, lift installation, general use of lifts, and routine maintenance.

The model risk assessment, published in book form, will be launched at a seminar on "Lift Worksite Safety" on October 3 at the Mediterranean Conference Centre, Valletta.

Participants must register via e-mail at mla@maltanet.net by tomorrow. For more information contact Michael Vella on tel. 7983-4725.