Elevator inspections reveal faults in responses if people are trapped
Print Edition
SHANGHAI’S quality watchdog conducted a citywide inspection yesterday on the emergency responses of elevator maintenance firms and property management companies when people are trapped. Nearly 200 cases of irregularities were found.
The emergency call system inside an elevator at a residential complex on Lane 355 Zhongshan Road N. in Jing’an District did not work after several attempts by officials, who simulated the situation of an elevator operation failure with people trapped inside.
There was an emergency telephone inside the elevator, but six calls from it were either not answered or got the busy tone.
When an official tried to use a cell phone to dial the emergency number, there was no signal inside the elevator cab.
“The only way to be rescued is knocking on the elevator door and hoping someone will hear it,” said Yang Bo, an inspection official. Trapped passengers could wait a long time at night or during working hours when there are few people around. “Trapped passengers often panic if the alarm system does not work,” Yang said.
If passengers are trapped inside an elevator, they are advised to wait for rescue instead of trying to prise open the elevator door themselves.
At Heyuyuan, a residential complex opposite Lane 355 Zhongshan Road N., the emergency button call inside the elevator cab was not answered.
After officials used their mobile phones to call a hotline number posted in the elevator, the building’s property management firm and maintenance company were finally contacted.
Both property management companies at the two residential complexes said that because of a lack of security guards, incoming calls were not heard.
At Shengli creative industrial park in Jing’an, Leye, an elevator maintenance company, was found to have failed to provide an adequate maintenance service based on safety requirements and to have fabricated maintenance records. It will face a fine of up to 100,000 yuan (US$14,705), bureau officials said.
Operators and management companies of elevators should ensure the effective operation of the emergency alarm installation of elevators, according to Shanghai’s regulations on elevator safety management. They should respond quickly to emergency calls when people are trapped, informing maintenance companies within five minutes. Maintenance companies should ensure a 24-hour efficient response to emergency calls and should arrive at the scene and rescue people who are trapped within 30 minutes, regulations state.
“Both property management and elevator maintenance companies are responsible if passengers are not rescued in time,” said Wang Qiang, an official with the special equipment department of the bureau.
In total, the bureau checked 494 elevator companies, and 449 maintenance firms yesterday in an inspection involving more than 1,200 officials.
Three maintenance companies did not answer emergency calls, and 14 others failed to arrive at the scene within half an hour.
In addition, 174 potential safety hazards were found, and 42 rectification orders were issued yesterday.
The property management companies will be ordered to rectify first within a certain period if they fail to ensure a normal alarm operation system or face a fine of up to 50,000 yuan. If a maintenance company fails to ensure a 24-hour response to emergency rescue calls, it faces a fine of up to 100,000 yuan, regulations state.
Shanghai has about 230,000 elevators in use.
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