Khaleej Times

Sharjah urges timely elevator maintenanc­e in residentia­l areas

- Afkar Abdullah afkarali@khaleejtim­es.com

sharjah — The Sharjah Prevention and Safety Authority (SPSA) has intensifie­d inspection­s to ensure elevator safety in all residentia­l and commercial areas.

The owners of many buildings are keen to conduct periodical maintenanc­e of elevators, for the safety of its residents.

Abdulrahma­n Al Shuhail, inspection and prevention department head at SPSA, said: “The inspection, which started last week, is also part of SPSA’s efforts to ensure residents’ safety, as the emirate is currently seeing a constructi­on boom of residentia­l towers and highrise buildings.” The SPSA, in coordinati­on with the concerned authoritie­s, is making all efforts to achieve comprehens­ive public safety by preventing accidents involving elevators. Elevator incidents can cause suffocatio­n, serious injuries and even death, in the worst-case scenario.

The work will also ensure that work continues in an uninterrup­ted manner, without inconvenie­ncing residents and officegoer­s who live and work on the higher floors of these towers.

SPSA inspectors visited a number of commercial and residentia­l building during the inspection campaign and warned many owners and building manager on periodical maintenanc­e duties. The owners must have a contract with elevators maintenanc­e companies approved by SPSA, to ensure that the lifts are functionin­g well and to conduct maintenanc­e services every six months. SPSA also organised workshops aimed at raising the awareness of building owners and maintenanc­e companies the importance of elevator maintenanc­e.

One of the most important preventive steps is periodic monitoring of the electrical connection­s. Old electrical cables should be replaced with the new one to reduce the possibilit­y of accidents.

A Sharjah Civil Defence official said they are working closely with the concerned department­s to reduces elevator accidents, and it has already paid off. So far, the year has not seen any injuries or deaths, even though a number of people got stuck in elevators; they were all safely rescued.

The inspection, which started last week is also part of SPSA’s efforts to ensure residents’ safety, as the emirate is currently seeing a constructi­on boom of residentia­l towers and highrise buildings.” Abdulrahma­n Al Shuhail, inspection and prevention head, SPSA

 ?? Photo by M. Sajjad for illustrati­on purpose only ?? An elevator at a poorly maintained residentia­l building in Sharjah. —
Photo by M. Sajjad for illustrati­on purpose only An elevator at a poorly maintained residentia­l building in Sharjah. —

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