The Rising Times: October 2003 :: Edition 5
 
October 2003 - Edition 5Washington State Department of Labor and Industries, Elevator Program
The Rising Times - A monthly look at elevator operations, maintenance and safety
From the Chief
Dotty Stanlaske, Elevator Chief


Voluntary inspections available
Are you considering purchasing a building that has an elevator, escalator or other conveyance, and want to know if it meets code?

L&I can perform a "Voluntary Inspection by Request" to let you know if the conveyance is compliant with code. The cost of this service is $100 per conveyance and $50 per hour for each hour in addition to two hours, plus the standard per diem and mileage allowance (.345/mile).

The owner/potential purchaser requesting this inspection will not be subject to any penalties based on the inspector's findings during this inspection. The purpose of this inspection is to provide the potential buyer or new owner with information that will enable him or her to be a better-educated consumer. If you are interested in this service, please contact the Elevator Program.

National Elevator and Escalator Safety Week is just around the corner

Just a reminder: the National Elevator and Escalator Safety Week is November 9-15. To view Gov. Gary Locke's proclamation for this event, please visit our web site at http://www.LNI.wa.gov/scs/elevators/proclamation.jpg. If you are planning an event for this week and would like a member of our staff to attend, please contact myself or Shari Purves-Reiter at 360-902-4733.

Safety Advisory Committee review almost complete

The Elevator Safety Advisory Committee will soon be finished with its draft report about licensing requirements for mechanics and contractors who perform work on private residential conveyances. This was a study that was requested by the Legislature during the last session. Once completed, the draft will be posted on our web site at http://www.LNI.wa.gov/scs/elevators/.

The elevator inspectors have completed their review of A17.1 2000 and its addenda, A18.1 1999 and its addenda, and the WAC rules. Many good points were brought up for consideration. A draft version of the changes should be available for stakeholders' review and comments before the end of 2003. Stakeholder meetings to discuss these changes, as well as public hearings on the proposed changes, will be held before any changes are implemented.

I can be reached by e-mail at sdot235@lni.wa.gov or by phone at 360-902-6128.

- Dotty Stanlaske, Elevator Chief
Meet Our Inspectors

l-r: David Dillion, John Rubaclava, Roy Millder and Rick Schumacher
Region 3 Elevator Inspectors (left to right): David McLellan and Ed Butler






L&I's Region 3 elevator inspectors are responsible for inspecting the conveyances in Pierce, Kitsap, Clallam and Jefferson counties.

Ed Butler is the senior inspector in this office. He came to L&I five years ago after working 32 years as an elevator service mechanic. If you want to contact Ed directly, please call 253-596-3865.

Dave McLellan has been an elevator inspector with L&I two years. Prior to that, he worked in the industry for 32 years as an elevator service mechanic. If you want to contact Dave directly, please call 360-415-4037.
Hot Topics

Howard Long retires
Howard Long, an elevator inspector in Region 1, has retired after 24 years with L&I's Elevator Program. During that time, he held the positions of Field Inspector and Chief Elevator Inspector. We wish Howard much happiness in his retirement.

If you have any questions regarding an inspection that Howard performed, please call Becky Ernstes, Elevator Technical Specialist.

Events Calendar

November 2003
Nov. 5: Safety Fair, all day, Department of Transportation

Nov. 5-7: Specialty Compliance Services offsite

Nov. 9-15: Elevator Escalator Safety Awareness Week, nationwide

Nov. 18: Advisory Committee meeting (subcommittee on residential units to also meet at this time), 9 to 11 a.m., Tukwila L&I office

December 2003
Dec. 10: Subcommittee on residential units, 9 a.m. to noon, Tukwila L&I office

 
Events Calendar

The management structure of Specialty Compliance is a matrix system. The Chief Elevator Inspector has responsibility for the elevator program. Any questions regarding policies and procedures should be directed to myself. While the elevator inspectors are under the umbrella of the Elevator Program, the inspectors actually report to Specialty Compliance supervisors in each program. If you have specific questions regarding a particular inspector, you should contact his/her supervisor. Here are the supervisors, their phone numbers and their corresponding regions:

  • Region 1 — Bruce Weech 360-416-3071
    (Acting Specialty Compliance Supervisor)
  • Region 2 — Rich Metcalfe 425-990-1461
  • Region 3 — Tom Bunten 253-596-3801
  • Region 4 — John McMillan 360-575-6933
  • Region 5 — Tony Tomasino 509-735-0136
  • Region 6 — Mick Roe 509-324-2563

Please note: If you have a question regarding code interpretation or an item on an inspector's report, you should first try to contact your elevator company, then the specific inspector and, lastly, either Becky Ernstes, Elevator Technical Specialist, or myself.

–Dotty Stanlaske



 


   
 

   
 
   
The Tech's Corner

Becky Ernestes, Technical SpecialistEach month we will feature a question that was posed to our Technical Specialist, Becky Ernstes. This month's question:

Q: What type of conveyances can I buy off the Internet and install myself?

A: We are often asked this question by customers who want to purchase a conveyance for a residence. The Internet contains a variety of advertisements from manufacturers about the quality and safety of their equipment. However, those manufacturers don't always mention that some states have regulations that govern the type of conveyance that can be legally installed.

The state of Washington regulates the installation of all conveyances installed in private residences. Examples of these conveyances might be wheelchair lifts, stairlifts, dumbwaiters, elevators and residential inclined elevators (otherwise known as hillside trams). Although many of these are available for sale through the Internet, they cannot be installed unless they meet the current adopted codes.

If you are considering purchasing a conveyance for use in your home, please call the Elevator Program to find out whether the type and model you are looking at has been accepted for installation by L&I. All conveyances installed in private residences or commercial properties require an installation permit to be submitted to the Elevator Program at L&I and the subsequent approval of the installation via an inspection. Currently, any person or company may apply for an installation permit for a conveyance.

Please note: Some manufacturers make different lines of the same product – one line that can be sold in states that do not have code requirements and a second line for sale in those states that do have code requirements.

If you would like to submit a question, please contact Becky at 360-902-6132, or e-mail ernb235@lni.wa.gov.
 

 

October 2003
Edition 5
The Rising Times is a monthly e-newsletter from the Department of Labor and Industries' Elevator program. Click here to be added to our distribution list.

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