About Us

EurIng Professor David Cooper

EurIng Professor David A. Cooper MBE

Position
Consultant

Qualifications

University of East London

  • Visiting Professor (2025 to present)

University of Northampton

  • Visiting Professor (2016 to 2026)

  • IOSH Managing safely in the lift industry (2021)

  • MPhil Research into escalator accidents (2011)

  • MSc Lift Engineering (2005)

Open University

  • BSc(Hons) Engineering & Management (2003)

Nene College

  • Continuing Education Certificate. Lift Engineering (1994)

City of Westminister College

  • HNC Building services Engineering (1992)

Various NALM/LEIA modules in lift & escalator engineering

EITB debentured apprenticeship with craft level (C&G) qualifications (1980-1984)

David Cooper is the CEO of UK based lift consultants LECS (UK) Ltd. He has been in the lift & escalator industry since 1980 and is a well-known author and speaker. He holds a Master of Philosophy Degree following a 5-year research project into accidents on escalators, a Master of Science Degree in Lift Engineering as well as a Bachelor of Science Honours degree, Higher National Certificate and a Continuing Education Certificate in lift and escalator engineering. He is a co-author of “The Elevator & Escalator Micropedia” (1997) and “Elevator & Escalator Accident Investigation & Litigation”. (2002 & 2005) as well as being a contributor to a number of other books including five editions of CIBSE Guide D. He is a regular columnist in trade journals worldwide including Elevation, Elevator World, Elevatori and Lift Industry News. He has presented at a number of industry seminars worldwide including in Thessaloniki, Munich, Shanghai, San Francisco, Melbourne, Zurich, Barcelona and Vienna as well as numerous presentations within the UK. He is also a Founding Trustee and Chairman of the UK’s Lift Industry Charity which assists industry members and/or their families after an accident at work. In 2012 David was awarded the silver medal by CIBSE for services to the Institution. David also Chairs the Charity that runs the Lift Symposium and is a past Honorary Visiting Professor at The University of Northampton and currently at The University of East London. He also sits on the Board of CIBSE. In 2021 he was awarded the Sir Moir Lockhead Award by the SOE for 30 years dedication to safety in the lift & escalator industry. In 2023 David received an MBE in the Kings Birthday Honours list for services to lift & escalator engineering.

  • Senior Board Level

    • CEO of LECS (UK) Ltd. Founding partner in 1988 (incorporated 1991). SME organisation.

    • CEO of LECS (UAE) based in Dubai.

    • Board Member, CIBSE (2020 – present) 23,000 member organisation. Vice President 2023.

    • Court Member, Worshipful Company of Engineers. Membership organisation of eminent engineers.

    • Board Member, IIExE (1990-1995) 5,000 member organisation which merged into the IET in 1995.

    LECS (UK) Ltd Consulting Engineers

    1993-present

    Royal Insurance

    1988-1993

    • District Engineer Surveyor & Trainer

    Kone Marryatt & Scott

    1985-1988

    • Staff Engineer & Area Safety Manager

    British Rail

    1980-1985

    • Apprentice rising to Service Engineer

  • Expert Witness Qualifications

    In addition to academic qualifications and experience specific expert witness related qualifications have been undertaken including civil procedure rules, non destructive testing, forensic engineering, evidence collection and preservation, understanding personal injury claims.

    Voluntary Work Within The Industry

    • Chairman, Lift Industry Charity (Trustee since 2007)

    • Chairman, Lift & Escalator Symposium Educational Trust (Trustee since 2011)

    • Technical Director, Babbacombe Cliff Railway

    • Committee Member, Rumford Club (Building Services think tank)

    • Chairman, Eastbourne Young Engineers Club (part of the Education Business Partnership)

    • CIBSE (other than previously listed):

      • Lift Group Executive Member (1991-present)

      • Chair of Career Panel (2015-2022)

      • Member of Training & Development (2012-present)

      • Chair of Lifts Group (1995)

    • British Standards Institution:

      • Representative on European groups WG9 for inclined lifts (2023 onward) and WG11 for improvement of safety of lifts (2014-present)

      • Chair MCE/20 Cableway Committee (2013-present)

      • Liaison between MHE/4 & MCE/20 (2013-present)

      • Chair BS5656-3 (2011)

      • Chair BS5656-2 (2011)

      • Chair BS7801 (2010)

      • Chair BS5656-1 (2010)

  • Fellow, Society of Operations Engineers (FSOE) (2020)

    Fellow, Institution of Mechanical Engineers (FIMechE) (2020)

    EurIng (FEANI) 2010

    Liveryman, Worshipful Company of Engineers

    CEng (ECUK) 2008

    Fellow, Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (FCIBSE) (2008)

    Fellow, Institution for Engineering & Technology (FIET) (1998)

  • Awarded an MBE in the Kings Birthday Honours list 2023 for services to lift & escalator engineering

    Awarded Paul Harris Fellowship by Rotary International

    Sir Moir Lockhead Award for safety (SOE) (2021)(for 30 years dedication to safety)

    CIBSE Presidents Commendation (2021)(for authoring COVID guidance)

    Fellow, City & Guilds of London Institute (FCGI) (2017)(For unswerving contribution to training)

    Outstanding Contribution to Community Award (EBA) (2016)

    Silver Medal of CIBSE (2012)(For contribution to the Institution)

    Significant Contribution to Business (EBA) (2005)(For Presidential role in Chamber of Commerce)

    Freedom of the City of London (2002)

    Highfield Shield (IIExE) 1993 (For escalator safety)

    Project Related Awards

    2020 Babbacombe Cliff Railway (Achieved listed Status with IMechE)

    2016 Ebbw Vale Inclined Lift (Elevator World Project of the Year)

    2013 East London Cable Car (Elevator World Project of the Year)

    2010 Padstow RNLI Lift (Association of Consulting & Engineering)

    2007 Babbacombe Cliff Railway (Association of Consulting & Engineering)

  • Books

    • Lead Author, CIBSE Guide D, Transportation Systems in Buildings (5 editions, 2000-2020)

    • Co-Author, Elevator & Escalator Accident Reconstruction & Litigation (4 editions, 2002-2020)

    • Co-Author, Elevator & Escalator Micropedia (6 editions)

    • Contributing Author, Buildings for Extreme Environments (Tropical) CIBSE (2017)

    • Contributing Author, Buildings for Extreme Environments (Cold Climates) CIBSE (2017)

    • Contributing Author, Buildings for Extreme Environments (Arid) CIBSE (2014)

    • Co-Author, The Babbacombe Cliff Railway History & Technology, Red Red Robin (2013)

    Contributions made to a number of other books including: “Cliffhangers” by Burrell, “From Pavement to Platform” by Orton, “up down across” by Merrell and contributions made to a number of editions of the “Elevator Technology” series books published by the International Association of Elevator Engineers.

    Peer-Reviewed Journals

    • Accessible Goods Only Lifts, LES Proceedings (2019)

    • Escalator Runways, LES Proceedings (2019)

    • How Many Breakdowns Are Acceptable?, LES Proceedings (2018)

    • History of the Safety Gear, LES proceedings (2018)

    • History of the Safety Gear, TSIB (2018)

    • Boat Lifts in the UK, LES Proceedings (2015)

    • Escalator Accident Analysis, LES Proceedings (2015) Contributing Author

    • The Last Four Water Balance Lifts in the UK, LES Proceedings (2014)

    • The UK’s First Urban Cable Car, LES Proceedings (2013)

    • Falls over the sides of Escalators, Proceedings of NAVTP (2009)

    • Investigation into Accidents involving shopping trolleys and luggage carts on escalators (Elevator World Technical Review) 2008

    Trade Magazines

    • Lift Industry News (content advisor)

    • Previously UK Editor of Elevator World UK (formerly Elevation) 1994-2022 with regular column on safety matters.

    • Over 104 articles/columns in safety columns as of December 2022

    • Articles have been published in Lift Industry News (UK), Elevation (UK), Elevator World (USA), Elevatori (Italy), Elevator Kai (Japan), Revista del Ascensori (Argentina), Lift Report (Germany)

    • Other articles published in other magazines including Building services Journal, Building Engineer, Facilities Management Journal, Refurbishment & Developer, Health Estates Journal, Local Government News, and Urban transport News.

    • He featured as an author in the Daily Telegraph weekend magazine in April 2025.

    Significant Presentations

    Regular speaker on the global and home circuits including CIBSE Lifts Group events and the annual Lift & Escalator Educational Trust Symposium.

    Other significant overseas presentations:

    • History of the Safety Gear (Hong Kong) Lift & Escalator Symposium (2018)

    • Falls over the sides of Escalators (San Franscisco) NAVTP (2009)

    • Falls over the sides of Escalators (Thessaloniki) ELEVCON (2009)

    • Escalator side of step entrapment (Melbourne) Lift Society of Australia (1999)

    • Escalators & Moving Walks (Hong Kong) 1999

    • Escalator side of step entrapments (Barcelona) ELEVCON (1996)

    • Should Escalators require PTE, (Vienna) (1993)

    Has also been interviewed on TV & radio including , The Jeremy Vine Show (Escalator Accidents), BBC Today, BBC Radio Berkshire, BBC1 “click”, IET TV, BBC Radio Northampton, ITV Meridian News, BBC South Today & BBC South West. Other TV appearances include BBC3 Emergency Measures and BBC2 Flog It.