John Driscoll Jr., Business Manager of the International Union of Elevator Constructors Local 17 joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the new state legislation requiring licensing to repair and install elevators, escalators and lifts in Ohio.
House Bill 107 will ensure all elevators, escalators and lifts in Ohio will be serviced and installed by only licensed contractors beginning in 2024. According to Driscoll it was a 10 year effort to get the bill passed. Up until now, any person could service and install any elevator, escalator or lift without a license. Driscoll said this could be why elevator installs, and repairs have one of the highest worksite accident rates in America.
One warning story Driscoll shared was from the Miami Airport in 2020. County inspectors discovered more than a dozen cases of rigged wiring used to deliberately disable critical safety devices. This rigged wiring, known as jumpers, was being used to disable the automatic shutdowns of the escalators in case a safety measure is triggered. Driscoll said the new licensing requirements will help ensure the safety of riders and contractors by preventing the use of jumpers by unlicensed repairs.
The rough draft of the rules and regulations of the bill will be available in the summer, Driscoll said. These rules and regulations will answer many of the concerns being raised by contractors. Of the main concerns, the cost of licensing and the duration of the license were two pieces of information that contractors request. Also, as more states begin to require licensing, many contractors want to know if their Ohio license will allow them to work in another state requiring licensed contractors.
Listen to the entire episode to learn more.