Ways of Reducing Elevator Emergencies and Entrapments

Elevator entrapments and emergencies: although unpleasant, unfortunately they are often an inevitable part of life when you manage a building. While not always completely avoidable, there are some actions you can take to prevent them. Learn more here.

No matter how you break it down, elevators usually fall somewhere on the list of the most expensive single pieces of equipment in a building. In addition to this, an elevator can potentially also be one of the most dangerous pieces of equipment within your building. Because of this, frequent maintenance and inspections are crucial to keep them running safely and to avoid any kind of hazard that might occur to anyone using them.

One potential result of poor maintenance and inspection upkeep is an increase in the number of elevator entrapments. An elevator entrapment occurs when a person or a group of people are enclosed in an elevator impaired by a mechanical or electronic issue. This can often lead to dangerous situations. Even in instances where entrapments don’t lead to dangerous conditions, it is often still a stressful and traumatic experience for the entrapped person(s). While elevator entrapments cannot always be avoided, there are preventative measures that you can and should take to keep individuals who frequent your elevators both safe and happy.

To reduce elevator emergencies and entrapment, here are measures that you can take:

1. All elevators should always be dust and dirt free. This comes back to cleanliness and maintenance. If there is dust on the elevator equipment or machine room, that is a sign that the equipment is not being well maintained. Dust can also become a medical emergency for individuals who are particularly allergic, especially if they are enclosed in the elevator for a logn period of time, for instance in an entrapment.

2. Be sure that the technicians responsible for repairs and maintenance regarding your elevator stay vigilant. Communicate with them thoroughly after each maintenance check and make sure that they are paying attention to all the necessary details.

3. All elevators should be level at all times. Mis-leveling is always a sign that the brakes are worn out. If you notice mis-leveling, you must immediately report it to your maintenance team.

4. Encourage those within your building to never rush in an elevator with closing doors. This is one of the most common elevator accidents. Many people assume that the elevator door will not close on them no matter what. Although this is true in most cases, there are always malfunctions. In the event that the elevator doors continue to close, they can cause serious injuries. It is always advisable to wait for the next elevator if you see closing doors.

5. If you are in an elevator and it has not stopped normally, do not try to force it. This is another thing you should let your building occupants be aware of. Make sure they know to wait for security or for a qualified technician to reach out to you before you attempt to leave. Push the elevator emergency phone button and wait for someone to respond.

6. Finally, occupants should never use the elevator in case of a fire emergency in the building. There should be a notice conveying this that is visible on every floor before using the elevator. This is usually to avoid being entrapped inside an enclosed area during this time of emergency. While there is an emergency phone within the elevator, the best option is to never chance it when a known emergency is already occurring.

Following the previously mentioned guidelines should not take a lot of extra time or effort, and it can significantly decrease the chance of an elevator entrapment or emergency on your property. In the event that one does occur, learn more about how Kings III can take care of the problem at www.kingsiii.com.