The Complete Commercial Elevator Safety Guide for 2020

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If your company owns a commercial elevator, you’ll understand how useful it is as a piece of machinery. If you own a large property, elevators play an essential part in moving people and items such as goods and equipment up several floors.

But, along with the benefits associated with owning and operating an elevator, it is essential to understand the responsibility that you have with regards to elevator safety.

It is imperative that you keep your elevator maintained and that you utilize elevator safety features for the protection of people using them.

In this article, we’ll discuss the best elevator safety tips and how you can ensure you’re following the best practice guidelines for elevator safety.

Which Elevator Safety Codes Are You Required to Adhere To

The ASME A17.1: Safety Code for Elevators and Escalators must be adhered to at all times. This code covers escalators, dumbwaiters, moving walkways, goods lifts, and passenger elevators that are designed for carrying people.

The code outlines the requirements that are associated with the construction and the design of the elevators. It also covers installation, testing, inspection, maintenance, and the operation of the elevator.

ASME A17 is also used by emergency services and safety personnel who will deal with the evacuation of passengers should the lift get stuck.

As the owner of a commercial elevator, it is your responsibility to ensure the elevator meets the standards set out by the ASME A17 code.

What Are Your Responsibilities for Inside the Car?

There are several checks that you should regularly carry out. These include:

  • Inspect the interior of the car for damage to the ceiling, walls, or handrails
  • Checking for burnt out lights
  • Checking the control panel lights all work
  • Making sure the door opens and closes smoothly
  • Ensuring the door restrictor operates as it should
  • Assessing the leveling accuracy
  • Testing the acceleration and deceleration both up and down

If there are any issues, these should be addressed before the elevator is used again.

What Are Your Responsibilities for Outside the Car?

Outside of the elevator car, you should inspect for the following:

  • Check for any burnt out lights
  • Test the smoke detector and fire alarm system
  • Ensure the door panel and clearances have sufficient headroom

You will also need to inspect the machine room, the top of the elevator, and the pit below the elevator too.

In the machine room, you need to ensure that there is nothing stored in the room that is unrelated to the elevator. This is so that the machine can be accessed quickly in an emergency.

In the machine room, there shouldn’t be any evidence of electrical failure or overheating.

The top of the elevator should be inspected for signs of rodents and vandalism. The inspection station needs to be in full working order too.

The pit should be inspected to look for signs of leaks, and corrosion.

General Elevator Safety

Your elevator should be used with safety in mind at all times. Here are some elevator safety tips for ensuring no accidents take place during the general running of the elevator.

  • Press the call button once only for the direction you’d like to travel
  • Pay attention for the signal to alert you to the arrival of the car
  • Step aside and let passengers alight
  • If an elevator is full, wait for the next car
  • Do not exceed the maximum recommended capacity
  • Don’t try to stop the doors from closing using anything, especially hands and feet
  • Do not use the lift in the case of a fire

Getting on the lift, passengers should enter with care and hold children and pets close to them. They should stand well back from the doors and make sure that nothing they’ve brought onto the elevator is in the way of the door.

On entry, passengers should select their floor quickly. After this, they should move to the back of the elevator car. They should only use the ‘door open’ button if the door needs to be held open.

While the elevator car is in motion, passengers should stand back from the doors and hold the handrail if there is one available. They should pay attention to the information about which floor they are on and be prepared to get off when the elevator reaches their destination.

When getting out of the lift, passengers should take care and allow those closest to the door exit first.

What to Do in an Emergency

If the door does not open when it reaches the desired floor, press the ‘door open’ button. If it still won’t open, press the alarm button and use the telephone or intercom and await assistance.

If the car stops between floors, press the alarm button, and call for help. Do not try and open the elevator doors and don’t try and leave the elevator.

Remain patient. There will be plenty of air in the elevator car. Stay as calm and relaxed as possible. Someone will be on their way to help you out.

Get the Right Elevator for Your Premises

Elevator safety is of the utmost importance. Once installed, it will be your responsibility to ensure inspections are carried out regularly and that your elevator is well maintained.

Make sure that you provide passengers with the relevant safety information to keep them safe in your elevator at all times.

If you’re looking for a well-installed, elevator that features all of the best elevator safety systems, contact us to find out more about our elevators.