Aufzüge und Fahrtreppen - IMU Institut

Among lift construction SMEs – if we factor out “erosion as
a result of acquisition by the Big 4” – there are many companies
who despite tough times up until 2005 have succeeded
in largely maintaining their workforce size. However, some
were forced to make cuts in response to the crisis which resulted
in redundancies for operational reasons. These job
cuts affected primarily shop fl oor employees, frequently
unskilled or temporary staff working in production. From
today’s perspective, particularly among service installers,
overtime and a full work roster are the order of the day.
A relatively new and ever more prevalent trend is the growth
of unsecured forms of employment. The use of contract
workers in production and assembly and farming out the installation
of new and modernization projects places regular
secured employment under an ever greater threat.
At the same time, working conditions among installers are
becoming more extreme. New maintenance concepts and
shrinking time allowances are resulting in enormous intensifi
cation of work among service installers.
Occupational safety
Simply looking at the number of registered accidents which
occur as a result of using lifts and escalators or working on
these installations clearly shows the extreme importance
which needs to be attached to the issue of occupational
safety in the industry. This intrinsically high quality rating
does not always translate into practice. Reports are prevalent
of enormous problems and infringements against occupational
safety among subcontractors used in both in
the construction of new installations and in modernization
projects. But also in general terms, occupational safety
measures and ongoing persuasion are necessary among installers.
On the subject of occupational safety, particular attention
should be paid to the ever more widespread use of
machine roomless lifts. Due to the absence of a machine
room, and the now frequent occurrence of a foreshortened
shaft overhead / pit, MRL installations involve a work impediment
which is inherent in the design and which compromises
the safety of personnel working in the service
area . The risk of injury or accidents is far higher than is the
case with old drive concepts.
Hazards for service installers result from restricted access
to components, and the foreshortened shaft overhead
which can quickly result in crushing in the event of an emergency.
MRL installations consequently require some improvement
in a number of essential areas. If this necessity is
not addressed purely for reasons of cost, the spread of new
types of lift can easily result in an unexpected rise in the incidence
of accident victims among employees working on
the servicing or installation of lifts (cf. Lift-Report 4-2006,
p. 4-8).
Outlook
The lift and escalator industry has been characterized over
recent years by a marked dynamic in terms of employment,
market and innovation trends, and this situation is set to
continue in the future. The combination of pricing competition
and growth strategies is set to encourage the existing
process of concentration. Globalization strategies in terms
of both production and procurement will continue to affect
the development of the remaining production capacity.
Strategies to enhance the technical and organizational capacity
for innovation in terms of both products and processes
are essential, particularly for lift construction SMEs, in
LIFT-REPORT 33. Jahrg. (2007) Heft 6 37