Lift and Elevator Codes and Standards in Eswatini
No lift-specific regulation or examination interval was found in force. Lifts are reached only through enabling powers in general laws: the Occupational Safety and Health Act, 2001 (Act 9 of 2001; s.2 'machinery' includes appliances for lifting or conveying persons or goods; s.41(2)(i) lets the Minister make regulations on the safety of 'lifts, hoists and elevators'; s.3(2) applies it in addition to the 1972 Act), enforced by a Chief Inspector (s.4); the Factories, Machinery and Construction Works Act, 1972 (s.6(b) lets the Minister extend the Act to any premises where a lift, elevator or hoist is used; s.31(j) lets regulations prescribe examinations and tests for lifts, hoists and elevators; s.28 refers to an elevator register 'if any, prescribed'); and the Building Act, 1968 (s.37 and First Schedule Part III allow regulations on registration of lift contractors and escalator contractors). No regulation exercising these powers for lifts was found. The Eswatini Standards Authority (SWASA) lists the lift safety standards SZNS SANS 1545-1:2009, 1545-2:2009, 50081-1:2004 and 50081-2:1998 (South African adoptions of EN 81-1/-2) as national standards; their legal status is not stated.
Who regulates lifts
Chief Inspector (Occupational Safety and Health), Ministry of Labour and Social Security (OSH Department); lift-specific role not confirmed
Periodic inspection
Not found. Enabling powers exist (OSH Act 2001 s.41(2)(i); Factories, Machinery and Construction Works Act 1972 s.31(j) 'examinations and tests for ... lifts, hoists, and elevators') but no regulation setting an interval was found.
Installer and maintenance licensing
Not found in force. Building Act 1968 s.37 / First Schedule Part III allows regulations on registration of lift contractors and escalator contractors; no such regulations found.
Laws, codes and standards
- Building Act, 1968 (Act 34 of 1968) — Building Act, 1968Mandatory · Act 34 of 1968, as at 1 December 1998 · Parliament of Swaziland; regulations by the Minister (s.37)
- Factories, Machinery and Construction Works Act, 1972 (Act 17 of 1972) — Factories, Machinery and Construction Works Act, 1972Mandatory · Act 17 of 1972, as at 1 December 1998 · Parliament of Swaziland; inspectors designated under s.7
- Occupational Safety and Health Act, 2001 (Act 9 of 2001) — Occupational Safety and Health Act, 2001Mandatory · Act of Parliament, Gazette 750 of 14 September 2001 · Parliament of Swaziland; enforced by the Chief Inspector (s.4)
- SZNS SANS 1545-1 (2009) — Safety rules for the construction and installation of lifts, Part 1: Electric liftsVoluntary · National standard adopted under the Standards and Quality Act, 2003 (Act 10 of 2003); no law found referencing it · Eswatini Standards Authority (SWASA)
- SZNS SANS 1545-2 (2009) — Safety rules for the construction and installation of lifts, Part 2: Hydraulic liftsVoluntary · National standard adopted under the Standards and Quality Act, 2003 (Act 10 of 2003); no law found referencing it · Eswatini Standards Authority (SWASA)
- SZNS SANS 50081-1 (2004) — Safety rules for the construction and installation of lifts, Part 1: Electric liftsVoluntary · National standard adopted under the Standards and Quality Act, 2003 (Act 10 of 2003); no law found referencing it · Eswatini Standards Authority (SWASA)
- SZNS SANS 50081-2 (1998) — Safety rules for the construction and installation of lifts, Part 2: Hydraulic liftsVoluntary · National standard adopted under the Standards and Quality Act, 2003 (Act 10 of 2003); no law found referencing it · Eswatini Standards Authority (SWASA)
Lift associations and bodies
- Occupational Safety and Health Department / Chief Inspector, Ministry of Labour and Social Security
- Eswatini Standards Authority (SWASA)
Last verified 2026-10-22. Standards are copyrighted: we list which one applies and its legal status, not its text.