§ 144. Elevator Safety Review Board; members; duties

(a) The Elevator Safety Review Board is established within the Department, and shall consist of seven members, one of whom shall be the Commissioner or designee, one of whom shall be the Commissioner of Labor or designee, and five members to be appointed by the Governor as follows: one representative from a major elevator manufacturing company; one representative from an elevator servicing company; an owner or manager of a multistoried building, in which a conveyance is installed; an elevator inspector; and an individual who actually installs, maintains, and repairs conveyances. The members appointed by the Governor shall be appointed for staggered terms of three years, and shall be entitled to compensation and expenses as provided in 32 V.S.A. § 1010.

(b) The Board shall:

(1) Adopt rules regarding the following:

(A) Safety standards for the operation, maintenance, servicing, construction, alteration, installation, and inspection of conveyances covered by this subchapter. At a minimum, the Board shall adopt rules that include the Safety Code for Elevators and Escalators, ASME A17.1; the Safety Code for Existing Elevators and Escalators, ASME A17.3; the Safety Standards for Platform Lifts and Stairway Chairlifts, ASME A18.1; and Standard for the Qualification of Elevator Inspectors, ASME QEI-1. The Board shall amend the rules to include any changes or amendments to these standards within six months after the effective date of the standard changes. The Board may adopt rules to modify these standards as the Board deems necessary.

(B) Any other rule necessary to implement this subchapter.

(2) Grant variances, provided the variance provides an equal or greater level of public safety. The decision of the Board in regard to an application for a variance shall be final.

(c) The Board may:

(1) adopt rules for temporary elevator mechanic licenses in the event of an emergency; and

(2) contract with a national testing service to develop and administer licensing examinations. (Added 2001, No. 60, § 1, eff. June 16, 2001; amended 2007, No. 153 (Adj. Sess.), § 6a.)