By ensuring that all elevators, escalators, moving walks, platform lifts, material lifts, and dumbwaiters are built, installed, altered, maintained, inspected, and repaired in accordance with current codes and safety standards, the Elevator Safety Program is tasked with protecting people from harm.
Do you have military experience and are interested in a lucrative and demanding profession protecting the lives of thousands of people every day? Have you ever thought about working in elevator safety if that’s the case? This industry is vital to ensuring the public’s safety on escalators and lifts, and it also provides a solid income and several prospects for professional growth.
Intriguing, right? Veterans may utilize their GI Bill to go to school for elevator safety. In this piece, we’ll discuss the many educational opportunities accessible to veterans via the VA, with a focus on those interested in working in the field of elevator safety. Let’s dig in and find out what this field has to offer and what perks our veterans may receive.
Making sure that elevators and escalators are safe to use is an important part of the job of elevator safety inspectors. This occupation is crucial to guaranteeing the public’s safety on various transportation systems. Veterans wishing to switch careers can use their GI Bill to earn certification in elevator safety.
Benefits of regular lift maintenance
Lifts can only be relied on to last if they are regularly serviced. Not only does this protect the users, but it also keeps the machinery running for much longer. In order to save money and reduce the likelihood of accidents, building owners and managers should stick to a preventative maintenance program.
Recognizing the Lifting Parts:
Lift maintenance is vital, but only if you have a firm grasp on the fundamentals of how an elevator works. Different components in lifts provide complementary functions to ensure passengers’ comfort and safety.
The motor, gearbox, and control systems of an elevator may all be found in the machinery room. The elevator is driven by a motor, and its speed and direction are managed by a gearbox. Push buttons, sensors, and digital controls all work together to keep the lift running smoothly.
The hoistway, the lift’s vertical shaft, and the doors leading into the lift vehicle are also crucial parts. Overspeed governors, interlocks, and emergency brakes all play important roles in keeping people safe.
Making a plan for lift upkeep:
Elevators can only be kept in good operating order with a clearly specified maintenance program. Checks for maintenance should be performed on a schedule that takes into account the building’s use and construction. For instance, a residential structure with limited utilization may not need repairs as often as a commercial building with considerable foot traffic.
The scope of maintenance work should be established before developing a maintenance schedule. Testing of safety features and emergency systems, as well as lubricating moving parts, are all part of routine maintenance. Adhering to a periodic maintenance schedule aids in spotting problems before they become catastrophic.
Employing a specialized lift maintenance company:
Elevator maintenance is very specialized. To maintain the greatest degree of safety and performance, it is essential to choose a reliable and competent lift maintenance service. Choose a maintenance company after researching their history, credentials, and feedback from previous clients.
Agreements and contracts for the provision of services should also be thoroughly examined. The documents specify the tasks to be completed, the expected turnaround time for repairs, and other criteria. You can better anticipate the quality of service to be provided if you take the time to go over these contracts carefully.
Common services provided by Elevator Safety professionals
Lifts are an essential mode of transportation, thus keeping them well-maintained is essential for their continued reliability and efficiency. Building owners and facility managers may ensure safety and extend the life of lifts by familiarizing themselves with lift components, developing a maintenance schedule, using expert services, and fixing typical maintenance concerns.
The commitment to safety is reaffirmed, and a complete record of maintenance operations is provided, when lift codes and regulations are followed and properly documented. Lift maintenance should be prioritized since it has long-term advantages for the building and its tenants. Experts in elevator safety perform a wide variety of necessary tasks to keep elevators and escalators in working order. Inspections, maintenance, and repairs are just some of the regular services they provide.
1. Inspections :
The safety of elevators relies heavily on regular inspections. In order to ensure the public’s safety, these experts conduct routine checks of elevators and escalators. They look for any deterioration, broken parts, or other hazards that might compromise safety. Elevators and escalators can only be used by the public if they have passed inspection and are in good working condition, as required by law.
2. Maintenance :
Elevator safety experts also do maintenance, which is a critical service. Elevators and escalators rely on them, thus it’s important that they have regular maintenance. Maintenance entails doing things like oiling moving parts, checking for loose screws, and swapping out broken pieces. Elevators and escalators may be kept in top functioning condition with routine maintenance that eliminates the possibility of malfunctions.
3. Remedial Work:
Repair services are another service offered by experts in elevator safety. They are the go-to guys when an elevator or escalator breaks down and needs fixing. Repairs might include replacing broken parts, fixing the wiring or the controls, or anything else that needs fixing. Repairs must be made swiftly and efficiently if elevators and escalators are to be back in service as soon as feasible.
How to Become an Expert in Elevator Safety
There are a number of paths open to veterans who are interested in working in the field of elevator safety.
A degree in engineering, construction, or a similar subject is necessary for a career in elevator safety. Degree and certificate programs in Elevator Safety and related subjects may be found at a wide variety of colleges and technical institutes.
Post-9/11 GI Bill and the Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment program are two examples of VA educational benefits that may be available to you if you are a veteran.
Acquiring relevant work experience is vital to the success of any aspirant Elevator Safety specialist. Gaining practical experience in the form of an internship or apprenticeship in the Elevator Safety sector is highly recommended. To get started in the industry, you might look at entry-level jobs like “assistant elevator mechanic.”
To work in the field of elevator safety, one must first have the appropriate certification. To become certified in elevator safety, you must complete the following requirements:
A BACKGROUND CHECK
Background checks are required of all applicants for licenses in the field of elevator safety. The goal of the investigation is to weed out anyone who has done something to disqualify themselves from being issued a license.
The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) specifies that applicants must use a DBPR-approved supplier for electronic fingerprinting services in order to satisfy this requirement. Most people utilize an approved source like the Florida Electronic Fingerprinting Service.
APPLYING FOR THE LICENSE
Candidates can apply for a licensure as an elevator safety professional after they have passed the required background check. To apply for anything, you usually have to fill out an application form and mail it in with any applicable fees and supporting materials. Examples of such paperwork might include transcripts, resumes, and certificates.
STUDYING FOR THE EXAM
Applicants who want to become elevator safety professionals must first be accepted into the program. Commonly tested knowledge includes elevator installation and maintenance procedures, basic elevator mechanics, and safety standards. Examinees can get ready by studying approved study materials and doing sample exams.
GETTING LICENSED
Those who prove their competence in elevator safety by completing the associated examination are granted official certification. In most cases, the license is only good for a set period of time before it expires and needs to be renewed. In most cases, renewing entails submitting an application and any applicable fees, in addition to fulfilling any necessary continuing education requirements.
Depending on where you live and who you work for, you may need to complete different levels of education and training in order to work in elevator safety. However, most positions demand prior experience in engineering, building, or a similar profession.
Degree and certificate programs in Elevator Safety and related subjects may be found at a wide variety of colleges and technical institutes. The following are some examples of relevant academic or professional credentials in the field of elevator safety:
Competences needed by elevator mechanics
Here are some talents that will come in handy in this line of work:
Engineering:
When installing and repairing elevators, technicians rely on their engineering expertise in fields like hydraulics and traction.
Abilities with machinery:
Elevator mechanics need to be able to use power tools and electrical equipment, which requires a foundational understanding of mechanical principles.
Capacity for prolonged physical exertion:
Elevator mechanics use these abilities to move heavy parts, assemble the elevator, and reach high places, such as the top of a shaft.
Fixing things:
Elevator mechanics can apply their problem-solving talents in a variety of contexts, from constructing new equipment to diagnosing current faults.
Reasoning critically:
Elevator mechanics need to be able to think critically in order to understand blueprints, take accurate measurements, and come up with effective solutions to problems like the required shaft size and height.
Use Your VA Benefits to Become an Expert in Elevator Safety
You may learn how elevators and escalators work, spot possible safety issues, and execute routine maintenance and repairs by enrolling in one of these courses.
- The Post-9/11 GI Bill is a program that helps qualified veterans pay for higher education expenses such tuition, fees, room and board, and other related costs.
- Veterans with impairments incurred in the line of duty have access to a variety of resources through the Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment program. Certification programs and apprenticeships are two examples of the types of training and education for which the program may provide funding.
- The Montgomery GI Bill is a program that helps pay for higher education and vocational training for veterans who qualify. There are two versions of the Montgomery GI Bill: one for active duty service members (MGIB-AD) and another for members of the Selected Reserve (MGIB-SR).
- Veterans who are enrolled in a private college or university may be eligible for the Yellow Ribbon Program. If you have reached the Post-9/11 GI Bill’s maximum benefit amount for tuition and fees, the Yellow Ribbon Program may be able to help.
- Veterans who are actively serving in the armed forces may be eligible to receive tuition aid to help defray the cost of their education and training.
Using your VA education benefits, you may fund your way through college, trade school, or even certification and apprenticeship programs dedicated to elevating your career prospects in the elevator safety industry.
Concluding Remarks
In conclusion, trained people are needed in the subject of elevator safety to ensure the proper functioning of elevators and escalators. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) offers educational advantages to veterans who are interested in pursuing a career in the elevator safety industry.
Common services given by Elevator Safety experts include inspections, maintenance, and repairs, all of which are essential to the well-being of elevator riders and the longevity of the machinery. And the compensation potential for an Elevator Safety specialist is high and grows with training, experience, and geographic location.
Using your VA education benefits, you may get the training you need to achieve your professional objectives and aid in the vital effort of keeping elevators and escalators safe for use. So, if you want to work in Elevator Safety, you should investigate training opportunities and check into what the VA has to offer right now. As part of being licensed and certified, you must also pass a background check through the National Elevator Industry, Inc. (NEII) website.
