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Senate of Pennsylvania
Session of 2013 - 2014 Regular Session

MEMORANDUM

Posted:	February 24, 2014 10:18 AM
From:	Senator David G. Argall
To:	All Senate members
Subject:	Pennsylvania Elevator Act

In the near future, I will be introducing legislation that would create a free-standing act known as the “Pennsylvania Elevator Act”. This bill would require that elevator contractors, elevator mechanics and elevator inspectors be licensed by the Department of Labor and Industry. The Department of Labor and Industry would administer the program and be responsible for ensuring compliance. Under present law, the regulation of elevators, and the regulation of those who inspect them is handled by the Department of Labor and Industry pursuant to the Pennsylvania Construction Code Act. (Act 45 of 1999) Act 45 requires that elevator inspectors be certified, but there are no requirements for the certification of elevator contractors or elevator mechanics. In addition, there are currently no education or training requirements in Pennsylvania for those who construct, maintain and repair elevator equipment. At a House Labor Relations Committee hearing in 2008, it was reported that elevators/escalators kill about 30 people annually in the nation and injure over 17,000 annually. Licensing these individuals will help protect the public by ensuring that elevator contractors use only qualified workers for escalator and elevator inspection, maintenance and repair. Please contact Jon Hopcraft of my office at 787-2637 or at jhopcraft@pasen.gov with any questions.

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