November 8, 2001 - Governor John Engler issued an Executive Declaration in observance of Elevator Escalator Safety Awareness Week from November 11-17, 2001 to educate parents, senior citizens and other consumers about safety tips to prevent avoidable incidents and accidents. The Elevator Escalator Safety Foundation estimates the equivalent of the entire United States population rides elevators, escalators, and moving sidewalks every day.

“The State of Michigan has nearly 26,000 elevators and escalators and every year we receive reports of incidents and accidents that may have been avoided if consumers followed common sense safety tips,” said Kathy Wilbur, director of Consumer & Industry Services (CIS).  “Children are considered the most at-risk of being injured so parents should recognize the importance of preventing children from riding elevators and escalators unattended and also not using strollers on escalators.” 

CIS’ Bureau of Construction Codes Elevator Safety Division and Elevator Safety Board is responsible for the state’s elevator, escalator, and dumbwaiter inspections; complaint investigations; reporting of elevator accidents; and issuing elevator contractor licenses.

Wilbur said many of the most serious injuries reported for elevators and escalators are due to falls, particularly involving riders over the age of 65 years old. She said falls and other accidents may be avoided by following these safety tips:

Elevators

·        Enter and exit carefully. Step up or down if elevator floor and hall floor are not level with one another.

·        Watch out for closing doors. Do not touch closing doors or try to stop them from closing.

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

·        In the event of a fire, never use the elevator, use the stairs.

Escalators & Moving Walks

·        Step on and off with care, and take extra care if you wear bifocals.

·        Passengers only on escalators: no strollers, walkers, or carts of any type.

·        Always stand facing forward.

·        Pay close attention and attend small children.

·        Hold on to the handrails and avoid the sides under the rail.

·        Move quickly away from exit areas.

·        On moving walks, stationary passengers should stay to the right and let walking passengers pass on the left.

Elevator Escalator Safety Week has been recognized nationally since 1994.  The Elevator Escalator Safety

Foundation estimates there are 600,000 elevators and 30,000 escalators nationwide with over 210 billion riders
traveling every year.

Read more Michigan Department of Consumer & Industry Services press releases.