Lift and Elevator Codes and Standards in Namibia

Namibia regulates lifts ('elevators') and escalators under the Regulations relating to the Health and Safety of Employees at Work (Government Notice 156 of 1997, in force 31 July 1997), made under the Labour Act 6 of 1992 and deemed made under the Labour Act 11 of 2007. No elevator or escalator may be erected or used without a Provisional Certificate of Permission or Certificate of Permission issued by an inspector, applied for on prescribed forms with machine-room and hatchway drawings, wiring diagram and rope test certificates; the user keeps an elevator register and record book. The user must appoint a competent person (or firm) to inspect guides, ropes, motor, drums, sheaves and safety appliances at least weekly and the entire elevator plant at least monthly; escalators get a weekly competent-person inspection of the whole plant and safety devices. Government inspectors inspect elevators at intervals they determine (fee payable), and the Chief Inspector may approve an inspection authority to perform inspection duties.

Who regulates lifts

Ministry of Labour — Chief Inspector of Factories / labour inspectors (Labour Act 11 of 2007)

Periodic inspection

Competent person appointed by the user: elevators weekly (key parts) and monthly (entire plant); escalators weekly (entire plant); government inspector at intervals the inspector determines (regs 127, 128, 165)

Installer and maintenance licensing

Competent persons/firms appointed by the user to an inspector's satisfaction; no separate licensing of lift companies found

Laws, codes and standards

GN 156 of 1997 — Part on Escalators (regs 159–166) (1997) — Health and Safety of Employees at Work Regulations — escalators
Mandatory · Labour Act 11 of 2007 · Ministry of Labour, Republic of Namibia
GN 156 of 1997 — Regulations relating to the Health and Safety of Employees at Work, Part on Elevators (regs 121–158) (1997) — Health and Safety of Employees at Work Regulations — elevators
Mandatory · Labour Act 6 of 1992; deemed made under Labour Act 11 of 2007 (Schedule 1 item 2(2)) · Ministry of Labour, Republic of Namibia
GN 156 of 1997, reg 90 (Elevators and escalators — general) (1997) — Use of elevators and escalators only under inspector's permission
Mandatory · Labour Act 11 of 2007 · Ministry of Labour, Republic of Namibia

Lift associations and bodies

Ministry of Labour — Chief Inspector of Factories / Labour Inspectorate

Last verified 2026-10-17. Standards are copyrighted: we list which one applies and its legal status, not its text.