Major and minor alterations

This directive is being issued by a provincial safety manager pursuant to section 30 of the Safety Standards Act.

Major and minor alteration requirements:

This bulletin is issued to all licensed elevating device contractors to clarify the requirements prior to an alteration of an existing elevating device in accordance to the A17.1/B44-2016 code.

The requirements for the submission and filing of technical information documents for major and minor alterations of an existing elevating device are as follows:

Submission and filing of technical information documents:

As per section 25 (1) of the Elevating Devices Safety Regulation (EDSR), before a Major or Minor Alteration of an existing elevating device may begin, a technical information package for the elevating device must be submitted to, and filed with, a provincial safety manager in the required form.

Note: As per section 12(2) of the Safety Standards General Regulation, in an emergency, or if required to perform regulated work when the permit issuing office is closed, a person is not required to obtain a permit before performing regulated work when the person:

1. is authorized under the Act to perform the regulated work, and
2. applies for a permit from the regulatory authority on the first business day following the emergency or the next day that the permit issuing office is open.

Major Alterations:

1. The technical information package submitted under section 25 (1) of the EDSR must,

   as per subsection (3) include the seal of a BC professional engineer approving the design drawings and specifications for a major alteration to an existing elevating device, and the professional engineer must verify the accuracy of the contents of the technical information package; and

2. As per the requirements of 12(2) of the EDSR a licensed elevating device contractor or mechanic must submit to a safety manager a signed declaration that the regulated work complies with the Safety Standards Act, and request a safety officer to conduct an acceptance inspection prior to the elevating device being returned to service.

Minor Alterations:

1. As per the requirements of 12(3)(a) and (b) of the EDSR, within 30 days upon completion of the minor alteration, submit to a safety manager a signed declaration that the regulated work  complies with all requirements under the Act and regulations and, within 60 days of returning the device back to service, request a safety officer to conduct an acceptance inspection if the scope of the minor alteration is deemed to require an inspection.

A “list of alterations” has been included as a supplement which provides details as to when an alteration is considered either a major or minor alteration and when an acceptance inspection is required. The list referenced, is based on the requirements found in section 8.7 of the ASME A17.1/B44-2016 code and was consulted upon with industry representatives.

Nav Chahal,
Provincial Safety Manager - Transportation

References:
Safety Standards Act
Elevating Devices Safety Regulation
Safety Standards General Regulation
ASME A17.1/CSA B44
Supplement: List of Alterations