Lift and Elevator Codes and Standards in Malawi
Malawi regulates lifts and escalators at workplaces under the Occupational Safety, Health and Welfare Act, 1997 (Act 21 of 1997, Chapter 55:07), administered by the Director of Occupational Health, Safety and Welfare (Ministry of Labour). Section 38 requires every hoist and lift at a workplace to be soundly built and maintained with its gates and interlocks, thoroughly examined at least once in every six months by a competent person, the signed report entered in the general register within 14 days and copied to the Director; an unsafe finding goes to the Director, who may issue a prohibition notice; it also sets enclosure, interlock, load/person marking and passenger-lift requirements. Section 39 requires every escalator in a workplace to be examined by a competent person every six months, with the report submitted to the Director within 14 days. Safety and health inspectors also carry out technical inspections of lifts and hoists (ILO profile).
Who regulates lifts
Director of Occupational Health, Safety and Welfare, Ministry of Labour (Malawi)
Periodic inspection
Thorough examination at least every 6 months by a competent person for hoists/lifts (s. 38(2)) and escalators (s. 39); reports to the Director within 14 days
Installer and maintenance licensing
Not found (examination by a 'competent person' as defined in the Act)
Laws, codes and standards
- Occupational Safety, Health and Welfare Act, 1997 (Cap. 55:07), s. 38 Hoists and lifts (1997) — Occupational Safety, Health and Welfare Act — hoists and liftsMandatory · Act of Parliament · Parliament of Malawi
- Occupational Safety, Health and Welfare Act, 1997 (Cap. 55:07), s. 39 Escalators (1997) — Occupational Safety, Health and Welfare Act — escalatorsMandatory · Act of Parliament · Parliament of Malawi
Lift associations and bodies
- Directorate of Occupational Health, Safety and Welfare, Ministry of Labour
Last verified 2026-10-17. Standards are copyrighted: we list which one applies and its legal status, not its text.