Safety Precautions

Safety Features in Elevators

Today's elevator systems incorporate a wide variety of features designed to help reduce the chances of accidents and give passengers a quick, dependable ride. These are -

Safety Brakes together with a speed-sensing governor, acts to stop an elevator if it should overspeed in the down direction.

The door system on a modern elevator includes sensors detect passengers or objects in the door opening, preventing the continued closing of the doors. More modern systems use a large number of invisible light rays to detect people or objects in the doorway and reverse or stop the doors without having to make physical contact.

Interlocks on the hoistway doors help assure that the elevator cannot leave a landing unless the doors are fully closed and secured. Should the doors be forced open, the interlock circuit will be broken, causing the elevator to immediately stop.

Various switches in the elevator shaft detect the presence of the car at certain stages of its journey. They initiate slowdowns and stops at the proper points, and help prevent over travel in the up or down direction.

An elevator cab comprises of several items to help increase safety. An emergency alarm switch will sound an alarm when activated by a passenger. In most elevators, an emergency telephone or intercom can serve as a link to assistance if the car should stall. And, in the event of a power failure, emergency lighting maintains illumination for hours. In some systems, emergency power is available to permit movement of the elevator and evacuation of the passengers.

In many elevator systems, a special fire emergency system is installed that can be manually activated, or may respond to smoke sensors in the building.

Safety Precaution for Elevators and Escalators

Today, elevators are used widely all over as the world's safest form of public transportation. Elevators provide passengers with incomparable ease, reliability and efficiency. Though, elevators with many built-in, dependable features are amazingly safe, still there are certain guidelines that should be followed:-

Never ever overload the elevator beyond the stated capacity

Today's elevators are designed to stop nearly even with the building floor. However, a disoperation could cause any elevator to mislabel.

Enter and exit carefully

Don't just walk in or out of an elevator without looking. Check to be sure the floor surfaces are even before crossing the doorway. Paying attention will prevent passengers from tripping. Observe the entrance floor. Step up or down if elevator floor and hall floor are not level with each other. Step over the gap.

Before entering, stand aside and allow exiting passengers to get off

The stop button switch should only be used when it is absolutely necessary to stop the elevator Do not attempt to stop the running elevator from the lobby by forcibly open the car door or hall door. You may loose your hands while doing so

If the doors do not open when the elevator stops, ring the alarm and wait. Never force the doors open or try to exit.

In case of fire, never use the elevator, use the stairs

Modern elevators are programmed to automatically return to the nearest floor when power fails. They will shut down, so they won't respond to calls. You may waste precious time for an elevator that does not come. Always use the stairs

The "Emergency Brake Release Device" which is available in the machine room enables the elevator to be brought to nearest floor. This must be used only by authorized person.

Children under twelve years of age should not use the elevator unless accompanied by an adult.Only press the "Up" or "Down" button once; repeated button pushing won't bring an elevator faster. And never press both buttons - you'll just slow down service for yourself and others.If you need to keep the doors open longer than the programmed time, press and hold the "Door Open" button.

Don't Touch the Doors. Also, using your hand, foot or objects like umbrellas or briefcases to stop the doors may cause injury to you and damage to the equipment. Remember, some older elevators may not have doors which retract automatically.

Don't allow children to push buttons for the fun of it as it slows service for everyone.

Smoking in elevators annoys other passengers and is usually illegal. So one should extinguish smoking materials before entering the elevator.

Don't delay other passengers by holding the door open to talk with a departing passenger.

Safety Tips for Escalator Riders

Riding escalators is easy. Yet, to avoid any accidents its necessary to do it properly and safely. Following needs to be necessarily followed while riding on escalators:-

• Face forward on the center of the step with feet slightly apart and without touching the stationary sides.
• After safely stepping, hold the handrail.
• Watch your step when entering or leaving the escalator, and step off (don't slide off) quickly.
• If you're using a, follow the signs to the nearest elevator. Escalators were never intended to accommodate vehicles like stroller, wheelchair, crutches or any kind of car or wheeled vehicle safely. Also, If your hands are full with packages or luggage, choose a nearby elevator instead.
• Never use an escalator barefoot.
• Be really careful with loose clothing such as scarves, coats and their belts, long skirts, wide pants, untied shoelaces, and when wearing soft rubber shoes or boots, ope-toed shoes, sneakers or high heels.
• Passengers using bifocals should pay particular attention as they enter or exit the escalator.
• Recognize your limitations. If you feel uncomfortable riding, or experience difficulty boarding or exiting an escalator, use the elevator instead.
• Don't strike side panels with hands, feet or objects.
• Don't place items on the handrails or steps.
• Don't use an escalator for freight.
• Don't walk up the "down" escalator or down the "up" escalator.
• Don't use an inoperative escalator as a stairway.
• Don't run up or down the steps.

Safety Precaution for Children while riding elevators and escalators

The rules for riding elevators and escalators are about the same for kids as they are for adults. It's just that parents should make the children follow these rules to avoid accidents.

Following these simple guidelines will make the ride more pleasant and safe for children on escalators-

• When riding with a small child, hold his or her hand, or carry the child in one arm while holding the handrail with the other.
• Help children step onto and off of the escalator.
• Do not allow children to sit on escalator steps -- clothing or fingers can get caught.
• Never let children ride on or play with the handrail.
• Don't allow children to use an escalator unattended.
• Don't allow children to walk or run up the "down" escalator or down the "up" escalator.
• Don't let children drag their feet along an escalator's sides.
• Never take a stroller on an escalator. Use the elevator instead.

As in case of elevators, children should be especially careful around the doors. They should never put their hands or feet into the area between the moving door and the adjacent door jamb. And, because some elevator doors require contact with a door edge before they will stop or reverse, it's always a good idea to remind children never to try to stop a closing door by putting their hand or foot in its path.

Children below 12 should accompanied by elders in elevators.