A systematic process to identify hazards associated with an elevator installation, evaluate the probability and severity of harm, and determine what measures are required to reduce risk to an acceptable level.
Full Definition
Lift risk assessment is mandated by the EU Machinery Directive (2006/42/EC) for the type-examination process and by EN ISO 12100 (Safety of machinery — general principles for design) as the foundational safety methodology. For elevators, risk assessment is applied at: (1) Design stage — identifying hazards in the EN 81-series hazard lists and selecting safety measures; (2) Modernisation — using EN 81-80's structured risk assessment for existing lifts; (3) Incident investigation — root-cause analysis following a safety gear activation, entrapment, or injury; (4) Periodic inspection — assessing residual risk of non-conforming items. The process follows: (a) determine the limits of the machinery; (b) identify hazards; (c) estimate risk (severity × probability × avoidability); (d) evaluate risk (is it tolerable?); (e) reduce risk by design, safeguarding, or information. FMEA (Failure Mode and Effects Analysis) is a complementary systematic technique. Documentation of the risk assessment process must be retained as technical file evidence for CE marking under the Lifts Directive 2014/33/EU.
