Hydraulic Elevators - Griffin Controllers

This safety order is issued pursuant to section 31 of the Safety Standards Act. A person affected by this safety order may appeal this order in writing to the Safety Standards Appeal Board within 30 days. The appeal process is set out on the Safety Standards Appeal Board's website.

Failure to comply with a safety order is an offence under section 72 of the Safety Standards Act.

Note:

All hydraulic elevators with griffin controls must be altered and tested to ensure safe operation by April 26, 2015.

After alteration and testing, all licensed elevating contractors must notify to BCSA completed alterations on the Hydraulic Elevators with Griffin Controller Submission Form.

Please download and print out a copy of the safety order for your future reference or add this webpage to your bookmarks.

 

Part 1: Details of Regulated Work or Regulated Product

This safety order is issued to all Licensed Elevator Contractors and Building Owners/Property Managers and applies to all Hydraulic Elevators with Griffin Controllers.

A serious incident occurred on July 9, 2012 where an elevator helper had his right hand crushed when a hydraulic elevator that he was working on unexpectedly descended all the way to the buffer. He was in the pit area to remove the fastenings for the in car hand rails while the elevator mechanic was inching the elevator down by using the top of car inspection station. The top of car inspection station was in the inspection mode but the elevator unexpectedly moved at full speed in the down direction.

This Safety Order is effective immediately.

 

Part 2: Requirement(s) of This Safety Order

All Licensed Elevating Devices Contractors and Building Owners/Property Managers are jointly responsible for the requirements of this Safety Order.

1. At the next mandatory maintenance visit or in any event no later than 30 days of the Safety Order, signage must be posted on the elevator car top stating “Warning: This unit may enter high speed when inching down on inspection within bottom zone”. Follow company safe work procedures.
2. All Hydraulic Elevators with Griffin Controllers must be altered and tested to ensure safe operation by April 26, 2015. Please refer to the attached Vertech letter dated March 13, 2013 by Michael Chadney, P.Eng. and wiring schematics for guidance.
3. A Minor Alteration Technical Submission must be filed with the BCSA with the applicable fee at the end of the month the alteration was completed in.
4. Upon completion of the alteration, wiring diagrams onsite must be updated to reflect the change and a sign on the controller must be posted stating “This controller has been modified as per SO-ED 2013-01. The sign must be posted in the vicinity of the original Griffin Controller Data Tag.
5. By April 26, 2015, all Licensed Elevating Devices Contractors that maintain elevators with the type of equipment referred to in Part 1 of this safety order must notify the BCSA when the alterations are completed by submitting the Hydraulic Elevators with Griffin Controller Submission Form ensuring the following information is provided:
   1. Licensed Elevating Devices Contractor Name
   2. Licensed Elevating Devices Contractor Address
   3. Licensed Elevating Devices Contractor contact person and contact information
   4. Notification spreadsheet confirming that all Hydraulic Elevators with Griffin Controllers in their portfolio have been altered and tested as per the requirements of this Safety Order. The notification spreadsheet must include, in respect of each unit altered and tested by the Licensed Elevating Devices Contractor:
      1. BCSA Unit number
      2. Building name
      3. Building address
      4. Date work was performed
      5. Reason if work not performed.

6. After April 26, 2015 any BCSA licensed elevating device contractor that identifies equipment referred to in Part 1 of this Safety Order that does not comply with this Safety Order must immediately remove the equipment from service and notify the BCSA in writing.

 

Part 3: Details of Issue (If Applicable)

This safety order is being issued to the following:

- Building Owners, Property Managers and BCSA licensed Elevating Devices Contractors

In the event a property manager does not confirm responsibility for compliance with this Safety Order, the BCSA will enforce this Safety Order against the buildings’ owner as is indicated on the Land Title or Assessment rolls.

 

Part 4: Details of Ordering Safety Manager or Safety Officer – Please Read Following Page

I certify that I am authorized to issue this safety order in accordance with section 15 (d) of the Safety Standards Act or that I have been delegated this power under section 15 (g) of the Safety Standards Act.

Provincial Safety Manager – Elevating Devices
Date: April 26, 2013

References:

Safety Standards Act