French Tourism Code

New ski lifts and conveyors, as well as substantial modifications to them, are designed and built in such a way that the overall level of safety in their operation for users, staff and third parties is at least equivalent to that of equipment providing comparable services, taking into account developments in the state of the art and feedback from experience. These facilities are operated and maintained under conditions that enable…

The technical and safety regulations applicable to ski lifts and moving walkways are defined by order of the Minister for Transport.

For the construction or substantial modification of a ski lift or a conveyor belt, a single project manager is chosen for the project, independent of the client, the builder(s) and the operator of the installation.

From 1st January 2009, any person performing the duties of the project manager mentioned in article R. 342-4 must first be approved by the director of the technical service for ski lifts and guided transport. This approval is issued for a maximum of five years under the conditions set out in article R. 342-16.

The constructors, prime contractors, contracting authorities and operators of ski lifts and moving walkways are each responsible for ensuring that the installations or equipment are built, maintained and operated in compliance with the technical and safety regulations set out in article R. 342-3.

The State’s technical and safety inspection of ski lifts and conveyors covers in particular : 1° Their construction, modification and operation; 2° Their compliance with technical and safety regulations; 3° Operation, including safety management and maintenance of the installation, as well as police regulations; 4° Operating accidents and incidents.

Compliance with the technical and safety regulations set out in article R. 342-3 is monitored, under the authority of the Prefect, by the Ministry of Transport officials assigned to these tasks.

The Prefect may at any time carry out inspections of operators and their facilities to check compliance with the applicable technical and safety rules. Officials from the Ministry of Transport who carry out these inspections have free access to all facilities and may obtain any documents or records required to carry out these inspections.