Overview
EN ISO 14798:2013 (ISO 14798:2009 adopted by CEN) defines a systematic risk assessment and risk reduction methodology for lifts (elevators), escalators and moving walks. The standard establishes general principles and step‑by‑step procedures to identify hazards, estimate risks, evaluate acceptability and implement protective measures across the life cycle - from design and construction through installation, testing, servicing and decommissioning. While examples focus on risks of harm to people, the methodology also applies to property and environmental risks.
Key Topics
- Scope and definitions: Terms such as hazard, hazardous situation, cause, effect, harmful event, risk, residual risk and protective measure are defined and used consistently.
- Structured risk analysis procedure: The standard sets out an eight‑step process (reason for assessment; team formation; subject definition; scenario identification; risk estimation; risk evaluation; risk mitigation; documentation).
- Qualitative methodology with quantitative support: Primary emphasis is on qualitative judgement by a multidisciplinary risk assessment team; numeric aids or probabilistic methods can complement the process where appropriate.
- Severity and probability guidance: Annexes provide templates, quick references to hazards, tables for severity and probability estimation, example assessments and suggested protective measures.
- Iterative risk reduction: The document emphasises iterative review to achieve acceptable residual risk and highlights the role of inherently safe design, protective devices, information/training and verification.
Applications
EN ISO 14798:2013 is used to:
- Assess safety during lift design and development and to influence technical specifications.
- Support manufacturers in selecting protective measures and documenting safety rationale.
- Guide installation and maintenance organizations in developing safe servicing procedures and compliance verification.
- Help testing bodies and inspectors evaluate conformity and residual risk.
- Inform safety engineers, standards writers and regulators when drafting requirements or reviewing risk mitigation strategies.
Practical use cases include hazard identification for new elevator systems, evaluating access/entrapment risks, and justifying maintenance procedures or guard requirements.
Who Should Use It
- Lift designers and manufacturers
- Installation and maintenance contractors
- Safety and compliance engineers
- Test laboratories and certification bodies
- Standardisation committees and regulatory authorities
Related Standards
- ISO 14798:2009 (original international text) - adopted as EN ISO 14798:2013 by CEN
- ISO/IEC Guide 51 (principles for safety and risk reduction) referenced for terminology and concepts
EN ISO 14798:2013 provides a practical, repeatable framework for managing lift safety risk and documenting decisions - essential for organisations involved in lift lifecycle safety and compliance.
