Keeping the field safe: elevator safety tips
Elevators are one of the safest and most reliable means of transportation. No one knows this better than elevator inspectors and maintenance professionals. It is their job to make sure that elevators operate safely. And thank God for them! The National Elevator Industry (NEII) states that, in the United States alone, passengers make 18 billion elevator trips each year. With so many trips, maintaining elevator safety is of paramount importance, both for passengers and workers. At EGL Elevators, we know how important it is to keep safety first in the elevator industry. Here are our top tips on what to do and what not to do for elevator safety.
Key areas of elevator maintenance and inspection
1. Corridors
Hoistway is the technical term for elevator shaft. This is where the moving parts of the system are exposed, so health and safety codes are extended. The ASMEE details the standards for ride compartments from Section 2.1 of the Elevator and Escalator Safety Code.
Because workers are inside the pit, railings on top of the cabin are critical to their safety. These railings must be constructed according to code. Some of these codes include:
2.10.2 Must be constructed of metal 2.10.2.1-3 Must consist of an upper rail, an intermediate rail, and a footstop 2.10.3 It must withstand a force of 890 N at any point along the upper track and 666 N along the middle track.
At EGL Elevators, we provide fully customizable and durable car railings to keep the field safe. All our railings are code-compliant and are still the lightest in the industry.
2. Machine Rooms An elevator machine room is where you’ll find the controller, disconnects, and motor. It’s usually on the top floor of a building, in a room that can only be accessed by verified personnel. You’ll find safety codes for the machine room beginning in section 2.7. There’s also a number of building codes that discuss the types of signage required in machine rooms. Guards come in two types. There are the fence-style guards that act as cages that must be opened to access the elevator components. There are also component guards that protect your hands from touching moving gears, belts, and pulleys.