LEIA Committees

There are five permanent LEIA committees with representatives nominated by member companies. The committees meet regularly throughout the year, with the chairmen reporting at the Council meetings.

Contracts and Legal Committee

The Contracts and Legal Committee is concerned with a wide variety of contractually related issues, such as the standard forms of contract issued by the Joint Contracts Tribunal and other standard forms used generally within the construction industry. The committee is also concerned with a number of legal issues some emanating from European Directives. The Committee participates in the Specialist Engineering Contractors Group (SECG) which provides an interface with organisations representing sectors such as heating and ventilating and electrical contracting, creating a forum for debate on matters of mutual interest. The committee is also responsible for producing a range of Information Sheets for LEIA members.

Education and Training Committee

The Education and Training Committee has responsibility for the LEIA Distance Learning Course and for all areas of activity relating to education and training. This includes the setting of standards for vocational training in conjunction with EMTA Awards Ltd (EAL). Much of the activity undertaken is under the sponsorship of the LEIA Educational Trust set up to promote standards of education and training in the lift and escalator industry.

Maintenance Committee

The Maintenance Committee covers an important sector of the lift and escalator industry and one of its objectives is to encourage customers to see the value of upgrading old installations to meet present day safety and performance expectations. The Maintenance Committee also interfaces with other work taking place in the form of EC Directives and Recommendations, as well as having an overall involvement in the projection of quality of service.

Quality and Technical Committee

The Quality and Technical Committee is responsible for all work relating to Standards. This involves representation on committees of a number of organisations, including the British Standards Institute, the European Standards Committee (CEN) and the International Standards Organisation (ISO). The Quality and Technical Committee initiates technical draft documents concerned with lifts and escalators which, after wider consultation, become British Standards. It also maintains close liaison on all technical matters with government departments such as the Health and Safety Executive, the Department for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform and other official bodies including the UK Association of Notified Bodies.

Safety Committee

The Safety Committee is concerned with all areas relating to health and safety and relevant safety and environmental legislation. The committee keeps an overview on the industry’s safety performance and accident record with a view to seeking improvements in safety standards wherever possible. . The committee participates in the Specialist Engineering Contractors Group (SECG) Health and Safety Task Group. The Safety Committee produces for LEIA members a series of information sheets, regular updates and newsletters. The committee also organises for members a twice yearly Safety Forum meeting for those with responsibilities for health and safety in their company.