Changes to Public Safety Act to Help Elevator Inspections

The government of Newfoundland and Labrador in Canada is making an amendment to the Public Safety Act in hopes of speeding up elevator inspections, the CBC reports. This comes just days after a heated exchange in the House of Assembly over the fact that approximately 65% of elevator inspections required in 2024 didn’t happen. The province requires all elevators to be inspected once a year, but there are only three government inspectors. On May 16, the Department of Government Modernization and Service Delivery announced amendments to the Public Safety Act that will allow private contractors and mechanics to carry out inspections, but this won’t come into effect until January 2026. The delay is to allow time “for the industry to ensure they can meet licensing and certification requirements, and for both the department and the industry to develop or modify internal business processes to facilitate the changes,” according to the official statement. Under the new rules, owners will have to send a written report to the chief inspector for renewing a device’s certifications. Once reviewed, the chief inspector can renew its certificate or go to an in-person inspection. The government is also making amendments to set qualifications for private contractors and mechanics so they can work and test elevating devices and amusement rides.