The province is changing the way inspections are done on elevating devices, including amusement rides, in order to make things safer.

Elevators, escalators and rides can be inspected by private companies instead of just in-house by the public service as of next January.

The Department of Government Modernization and Service Delivery says owners of such devices will have to provide a report as part of the annual renewal process, then the chief inspector will renew the device’s certificate or order an inspection.

The objective is to improve safety by lightening the load on government inspectors so that they can focus on priority requirements such as new installations and responding to complaints.

The department says the new requirements are aligned with most other jurisdictions in Canada.