CENTREVILLE, VA. (July 25, 2018)

The National Elevator Industry, Inc. (NEII) commends Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards and the bill’s sponsor Rep. Scott Simon for their leadership and support of the new milestone elevator mechanic licensing legislation recently signed into law. 

NEII, in partnership with the International Union of Elevator Constructors (IUEC), the Elevator Industry Work Preservation Fund (EIWPF) and other stakeholders, worked with the State of Louisiana to enact both licensing requirements for industry mechanics and to establish an elevator inspection program-neither of which previously existed statewide. The bill was passed by the legislature by a vote of 35-1. NEII‘s Director of Government Affairs, Dylan Isenberg, who testified in support of the bill, joined the Governor at the bill signing ceremony. 

The industry collaboration on this issue underscores the importance of standardized licensing requirements for mechanics and inspectors. Safety for both the riding public and industry personnel is best achieved when those working on elevator equipment are required to demonstrate a fundamental competency through a combination of classroom hours and on-the-job training. 

“Safety is the top priority for NEII and its members,” said NEII Executive Director Karen Penafiel. “In that pursuit, NEII supports licensing requirements which set minimum standards for the training, education and proficiency of elevator mechanics. Currently, 33 states have elevator mechanic licensing programs, and we will continue to work with other jurisdictions to implement and update comparable standards.” 

About NEII

NEII is the premier trade association representing the global leaders in the building transportation industry. Its members install, maintain, and/or manufacture elevators, escalators, moving walks, and other building transportation products. NEII‘s membership includes the six major international companies – Fujitec America, Inc., KONE, Inc., Mitsubishi Electric US, Inc., Otis Elevator Company, Schindler Elevator Corporation, Thyssenkrupp Elevator Company and several other companies across the country. Collectively, the NEII members represent approximately eighty percent of the total hours worked within the elevator and escalator industry, employ more than 25,000 people in the U.S. and indirectly support hundreds of thousands of American jobs in affiliate industries. 

For more information about NEII, please visit www.neii.org.