Elevator Contractor

The Ministry identified The Passenger and Freight Elevator Regulations, 2003, as a candidate for a full review to comply with Government’s objective to review regulations every 10 years, under the Red Tape Reduction Action Plan that establishes a framework to ensure the Government of Saskatchewan’s business related regulations remain effective, efficient and relevant.

As a result of the review, the Ministry worked with TSASK to identify the issues, options and the proposed amendments for each of the technical safety regulations. TSASK also conducted stakeholder consultations that contributed to identifying the issues and proposed solutions.

The rewritten regulations will:

• Update codes and standards to the latest editions as applicable and continue Saskatchewan’s adoption of the established codes and standards for elevators, ski lifts, personnel hoists and lifts for persons with physical disabilities
• Remove all fee references as fees are set by TSASK bylaw
• Improve language and terminology within the regulations

• For passenger elevators, freight elevators, dumbwaiters, dumbwaiters with automatic transfer devices, escalators, material lifts and moving walks, the ASME A17.1-2013/Canadian Standards Association standard B44-2013 Safety Code for Elevators, as amended by Part I of the Appendix
• For personnel hoists, the Canadian Standards Association standard CAN/CSAZ185-M87 Safety Code for Personnel Hoists
• For manlifts, the Canadian Standards Association standard B311-02 Safety Code for Manlifts
• For passenger ropeways, the Canadian Standards Association standard Z98-14 Passenger Ropeways
• For lifts for persons with physical disabilities, the Canadian Standards Association standard B355-15 Lifts for Persons with Physical Disabilities
• For electrical wiring, apparatus and devices associated with the construction or operation of an elevator, the latest prescribed edition of the Canadian Electrical Code, within the meaning of subsection 5(1) of The Electrical Inspection Act, 1993

Additional exemptions were added for work platforms and freight platforms.

For example, freight elevators with limited elevation, mainly used for unloading materials from semi-trailer units to ground level are now exempt from the requirements of the regulations.

New categories of contractor licensing classes have been established for owners in industrial locations, limiting the scope for work by approved personnel on site such as power plants, potash mines or mining operations:

1. Class D, which authorizes the holder to:
   • Provide elevator safety training programs and instruction to elevator emergency personnel, including those persons licensed as a Class B – Owner
   • Access the elevator equipment areas such as the hoistway, top of car, pit areas, machine rooms and control rooms for the purpose of conducting a survey, audit, or developing elevator specifications on behalf of the elevator owner
2. Class E, which authorizes the holder to:
   • Conduct alterations to the interior of elevator cars for the purpose of refurbishing, restoring or replacing interior cab panels or ceiling materials and lighting fixtures

The new regulations will not only improve public safety, but the public will support updating the regulations to better reflect current practices and ensure protection for people.

Yes, where it is appropriate to do so and in the best interests of industry and the province. Part of any review is to look at what other jurisdictions are doing with respect to the application of codes and standards.

We believe that harmonization of codes and standards will lead to increases in productivity, reduce the regulatory burden on industry, which in turn should align with objectives in our trade agreements to limit barriers.

The province is committed to the process of notifying other jurisdictions of any changes to allow them to identify any impediments to trade or labour mobility under the New West Partnership Trade Agreement (NWPTA).

Currently, contractors performing modifications to the interior of elevator cars are not required to have a specified permit. Interior car modifications affect the integrity of the elevator as a whole and require additional inspections and tests to be conducted to ensure overall safety.

The addition of a specific licence to perform interior car modifications will clarify notification and other requirements to renovate interior car spaces to ensure there is no adverse impact on elevator safety or operation.

The Red Tape Committee approved the approach to clarify matters with respect to interior elevator car renovations in the regulations.