Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Lift broken at work

208 replies

Mitara · 21/07/2025 09:04

The lift has been broken in my workplace for the last month.

The employer said he has been waiting for a part that he ordered.

However i have heard him moan about the cost of getting the lift fixed. He said that it will cot him thousands of pounds to get it fixed . He wont be paying for it out of his own pocket. It will come out of company money, but he just doesnt like paying for it.

The lift being broken has resulted in me and other members of staff having to walk up and down a lot of stairs more for normal tasks, and we are also having to do heavy lifting up and down stairs. I honestly feel like im going to collapse.

Is there any law or workplace safety regulation that states that an emloyer must get a lift fixed, if not having a lift is causing health and safety risks to employees.

I was trying to look it up last night but havent found anything specific yet. I would love to find something specific and show it to him

OP posts:
Hangingonthere · 21/07/2025 19:55

Mitara
It can't be easy lugging heavy things up and down stairs. But in your boss's defence he may be telling the truth. Two friends were without lifts in blocks where they lived for months. One was for five months and this in a building which is less than 20 years old. Already some of the lift parts are obsolete and had to be sourced outside the UK. In the other case, a very old lift, the part had to specially made. It isn't always a case of just ordering the part. Your boss isn't a lift engineer and he is probably repeating what he has been told. Complaining about the cost is neither here or there if he isn't paying for it. However, he could have some young lads do the heavy lifting in the meantime.

fetchacloth · 21/07/2025 19:11

YANBU and yes it is does contravene H&S law if the lift is broken. The only exception is the period of time that it takes to get the parts to fix it, so as long as the repair is booked in then that's OK.
Hopefully it gets fixed soon.

RealOliveTraybake · 21/07/2025 18:46

Mitara · 21/07/2025 11:57

See i think that care home was bullshitting and didnt want to pay for a while too.

There cant just be one factory that supplies the right lift parts surely.

I used to work in a different place. Anytime that the lift broke, they were able to fix it in three days. Every time

Show quote history

There very well might be for that model. Elevators are relatively well regulated, and you're essentially stuck waiting for the manufacturer to make them if there's no stock of parts. You can't just go and buy an aftermarket part in most cases.

Jetandianto · 21/07/2025 18:35

Join a trade union

Jetandianto · 21/07/2025 18:35

Join a trade union

saltinesandcoffeecups · 21/07/2025 18:27

JennyBG · 21/07/2025 18:22

At 58 I would have thought you’d have learnt not to be so rude. You have no idea how fit or not the OP is. You don’t know the layout or steepness of the stairs. Four flights of stairs, ten times a day, carrying heavy laundry bags…yeah, I’m sure 'you' could run up them and not be knackered and out of breath!

Show quote history

Again… the OP isn’t doing the stairs anymore. Now she’s just complaining about it.

Weird there’s been no mention of “Thanks for the advice” “will pass on that information” etc. Just “I want to chat about this subject”. Very odd.

JennyBG · 21/07/2025 18:22

needtostopnamechanging · 21/07/2025 10:52

I would have no problem that’s why I said it wasn’t much - I’m 58 so not a spring chicken and I amnt a fitness freak either

sounds like it would do you some good

At 58 I would have thought you’d have learnt not to be so rude. You have no idea how fit or not the OP is. You don’t know the layout or steepness of the stairs. Four flights of stairs, ten times a day, carrying heavy laundry bags…yeah, I’m sure 'you' could run up them and not be knackered and out of breath!

MustWeDoThis · 21/07/2025 18:11

Mitara · 21/07/2025 09:04

The lift has been broken in my workplace for the last month.

The employer said he has been waiting for a part that he ordered.

However i have heard him moan about the cost of getting the lift fixed. He said that it will cot him thousands of pounds to get it fixed . He wont be paying for it out of his own pocket. It will come out of company money, but he just doesnt like paying for it.

The lift being broken has resulted in me and other members of staff having to walk up and down a lot of stairs more for normal tasks, and we are also having to do heavy lifting up and down stairs. I honestly feel like im going to collapse.

Is there any law or workplace safety regulation that states that an emloyer must get a lift fixed, if not having a lift is causing health and safety risks to employees.

I was trying to look it up last night but havent found anything specific yet. I would love to find something specific and show it to him

Call ACAS - They'll be able to formally advise you on work law.

Original poster
Mitara · 21/07/2025 18:03

grumpygrape · 21/07/2025 17:54

Well, I'm retired and it's a rest day for the Tour de France so my time is my own.

You're the one who flounced and returned before the door closed behind you.

I'm not sure what you want from the thread but you've been given information and suggestions for support for your colleagues. Perhaps your time would be better spent giving them more strategic support.

Show quote history

I don't "want " anything from the thread. Neither does anyone on mumsnet.

Its a chat forum. People come on to writr threads about different topics.

OP posts:
grumpygrape · 21/07/2025 17:54

Mitara · 21/07/2025 16:36

You have an awful lot of time on your hands, to be counting other people's posts.

Imagine actually sitting there, and counting some one else's posts.

Show quote history

Well, I'm retired and it's a rest day for the Tour de France so my time is my own.

You're the one who flounced and returned before the door closed behind you.

I'm not sure what you want from the thread but you've been given information and suggestions for support for your colleagues. Perhaps your time would be better spent giving them more strategic support.

mysecretshame · 21/07/2025 17:46

herbetta · 21/07/2025 16:09

40 flights is something I would do on the Stepper Machine in the gym on a morning before work, as just one part of my routine. I do this every day. I'm over 50.

Show quote history

Super dangerous doing this carrying a heavy weight of linen.

I doubt the gym would allow that - which is maybe why the OP and others she works with shouldn't have to.

Dontcallmescarface · 21/07/2025 17:39

herbetta · 21/07/2025 16:09

40 flights is something I would do on the Stepper Machine in the gym on a morning before work, as just one part of my routine. I do this every day. I'm over 50.

Show quote history

Do you carry a heavy load as well or are you empty handed when using your stepper? Try lifting 10kgs (possibly more) whilst doing it then maybe it would be a fair comparison to the OP.

BumpyWinds · 21/07/2025 17:33

Mitara · 21/07/2025 14:02

Tyres for my car: yes i do keep a spare tyre.

The Battery and windscreen wipers have never broken in any of my cars.

If a lift is vital for an organisation and it effects the health and safety of many others, spare parts should be ordered in.

Show quote history

We used to have a car lift in our old office. It broke one day. The quote came in for new hydraulics. £25,000! We were then told that if those were fixed, chances are the motor would be next and that would be £50,000!

Not many businesses have the kind of money needed to have a full stock of spare parts on hand.

We've just had a new car park shutter installed. It's quite a simple piece of equipment really, but that cost over £10,000.

Kindly, some of your suggestions are not at all realistic for most businesses, especially in a time when their other costs are rising so much also.

No, you shouldn't be having to carry heavy loads up stairs indefinitely and it's on your employer to find a solution to that, but the problems being faced by many businesses are massive at the moment.

MissMoneyFairy · 21/07/2025 16:42

JMSA · 21/07/2025 16:18

OP, I don’t know why some people are being obtuse and/or smug. Of course it’s not unreasonable for you to want the lift to work!

This is just turning into another argumentative thread, not going anywhere and posters just being petty and nit picking. Hopefully op and colleagues have read up on the policies we've mentioned and reported it.

Original poster
Mitara · 21/07/2025 16:36

grumpygrape · 21/07/2025 16:31

And five since she flounced !

Show quote history

You have an awful lot of time on your hands, to be counting other people's posts.

Imagine actually sitting there, and counting some one else's posts.

OP posts:
Original poster
Mitara · 21/07/2025 16:35

saltinesandcoffeecups · 21/07/2025 16:24

Right… but you’re not doing it anymore. So what is the problem?

Show quote history

That my colleagues are still having to do it.
And i am watching them suffer terribly every week.

As i have written, many times now

OP posts:
grumpygrape · 21/07/2025 16:31

Postre · 21/07/2025 15:24

Thirty replies in six hours at work would suggest OP doesn't have enough to do, rather than too much.

And five since she flounced !

saltinesandcoffeecups · 21/07/2025 16:24

Mitara · 21/07/2025 16:13

Are you carrying a very large 15kg weight the whole time that you are on the stepper machine?

Its not the same as what i did, is it?

Show quote history

Right… but you’re not doing it anymore. So what is the problem?

JMSA · 21/07/2025 16:18

OP, I don’t know why some people are being obtuse and/or smug. Of course it’s not unreasonable for you to want the lift to work!

Original poster
Mitara · 21/07/2025 16:16

Boomer55 · 21/07/2025 16:15

If you’re not disabled, stairs shouldn’t be a problem. 🤷‍♀️

Show quote history

So when you carry a very heavy weight up stairs, would you describe it as easy?

OP posts:
Boomer55 · 21/07/2025 16:15

Mitara · 21/07/2025 09:04

The lift has been broken in my workplace for the last month.

The employer said he has been waiting for a part that he ordered.

However i have heard him moan about the cost of getting the lift fixed. He said that it will cot him thousands of pounds to get it fixed . He wont be paying for it out of his own pocket. It will come out of company money, but he just doesnt like paying for it.

The lift being broken has resulted in me and other members of staff having to walk up and down a lot of stairs more for normal tasks, and we are also having to do heavy lifting up and down stairs. I honestly feel like im going to collapse.

Is there any law or workplace safety regulation that states that an emloyer must get a lift fixed, if not having a lift is causing health and safety risks to employees.

I was trying to look it up last night but havent found anything specific yet. I would love to find something specific and show it to him

If you’re not disabled, stairs shouldn’t be a problem. 🤷‍♀️

Original poster
Mitara · 21/07/2025 16:13

herbetta · 21/07/2025 16:09

40 flights is something I would do on the Stepper Machine in the gym on a morning before work, as just one part of my routine. I do this every day. I'm over 50.

Show quote history

Are you carrying a very large 15kg weight the whole time that you are on the stepper machine?

Its not the same as what i did, is it?

OP posts:
Chimney24 · 21/07/2025 16:12

Gosh. OP makes a post concerned about their colleagues because they are all suffering, and there's a chunk of the replies questioning OPs professionalism, work load, fitness. What is going on? It's clearly a very heavy load carried up and down 4 flights of stairs multiple times a day with multiple people feeling like they're going to pass out. Doesn't sound healthy at all and I can understand OPs concern.

If your management are giving the impression that there's no rush because it's "only cleaners" doing it then that's simply disgusting.

Faceonthewrongfoot · 21/07/2025 16:11

Postre · 21/07/2025 16:05

No, but even if you only spent a minute catching up and typing, that's thirty minutes of work you weren't doing.

Show quote history

I would imagine she has breaks in which she could use her phone/type responses.

Faceonthewrongfoot · 21/07/2025 16:10

herbetta · 21/07/2025 16:09

40 flights is something I would do on the Stepper Machine in the gym on a morning before work, as just one part of my routine. I do this every day. I'm over 50.

Show quote history

Gosh, do they let you bring heavy bags of linen in to the gym?