Safety and Maintenance Procedures
What the safety and maintenance domain tests
The exam tests whether you can plan work that exposes you to hoistway, pit, car-top, and electrical hazards. Maintenance is not just repairing faults; it includes documented tests, cleaning, lubrication, adjustment, and keeping safety devices functional. Maryland expects licensed mechanics and supervised apprentices to follow lockout/tagout and manufacturer procedures.
Core procedures
- Before entering a pit, stop the car, place controls on inspection, open the hoistway door with the proper key, turn on pit lighting, and verify the pit stop switch works. Use a portable ladder or permanent ladder correctly; never climb on buffers or piping.
- On car top, use the inspection station and car-top stop switch. Maintain fall protection and keep the car-top railing in place. Do not use the car top as a routine work platform unless the installation provides the required guardrails.
- Lockout/tagout the main disconnect before working on electrical parts. Verify absence of voltage with a meter rated for the circuit.
- Record maintenance, tests, and repairs. Safety-device tests-door interlocks, governor, safeties, buffers, fire recall-must be performed at required intervals.
Worked example
You must inspect pit buffers. Reasoning: notify building staff, secure the hoistway, move the car to the designated access level, place the car on inspection, open the door with the hoistway key, turn on pit light, and test the pit stop switch before descending. Lock out the main power if buffer adjustment requires contact with moving parts. After work, remove tools, restore the stop switch, close the door, and return the car to normal service only after verifying the hoistway is clear.
Traps
Do not rely on a door interlock as your only protection. Do not leave a car on inspection when returning it to service. Do not test safeties with passengers aboard. Do not skip documentation because the repair was "minor."