Make sure your building’s lift doesn’t cost you your life
NEW DELHI: Exactly a year ago, an apex consumer commission order resulting in the sudden death of 46-year old Vipin Handa while getting out of a stalled lift at the CGO complex in Delhi in 2003, had highlighted two important safety aspects that are often ignored when it comes to elevators, (a) proper maintenance of the lift and (b) rescue operation by trained professionals.
The detailed order of the commission had held the lift manufacturer, Otis, guilty of sheer negligence and lack of professionalism, for installing the lift without a voltage stabiliser, for failing to advise the administration about the need for a stabiliser well in time and also for failing to service the lift, despite complaints.
The Commission also held the Military Engineering Services (MES) and the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) jointly liable for failing to enforce the maintenance and repair contract with Otis and for not ensuring the installation of a voltage stabiliser to ensure the smooth running of the lift.
Now, another order of the Commission brings into sharp focus the scant attention paid to the maintenance of lifts in buildings around the country.
In this particular case, 25-year-old Rohan Pai died while on his way to work in a high rise building in Mumbai in 2005, on account of a faulty elevator. As Rohan entered the lift, it suddenly moved up with the doors open - resulting in his death.
The Commission’s order in this case too, shows callous indifference to safety exhibited by the owners of the building, as well as the agency entrusted with the maintenance job.
In this case, apparently, the lift was out of order and following a complaint, the maintenance staff was on the job.
Since the lift would not move while the doors were open, the Commission said it was obvious that the technical staff had disabled the safety door switch with the in-built door locking system that would have prevented the lift from moving with open doors.
However, they failed to put out a warning board, saying that the lift was under repair and should not be used. This carelessness cost Rohan his life.
The Commission in this case directed the owners of the building, Bhagwati House as well as the lift maintenance firm, care Elevators and Engineering Co, to pay `1.89 crore to the victim’s father.
The two orders may refer to accidents that happened in 2003 and 2005, but even today accidents such as these are not uncommon.
Elevators in India are so badly maintained that getting stranded in a lift is commonplace.
And instead of deploying trained professionals for rescue operations, attempts are made by untrained staff to pry open the door and get those stranded between the floors to jump down to the floor below, stating that the lift is in a locked position and would not move.
Many such rescue operations have resulted in those being ‘rescued’ getting crushed to death. So whether it is the residential complex or the commercial building where your office is located, make sure that the lift that is installed has adequate safety features and is maintained regularly.
Make it a point to ask the owner of the building about the maintenance of the lift and check for yourself the certificate of maintenance put up in the lift.
You must also insist on every lift displaying the procedure to be followed in case of stalling and the rescue operations to be taken up.
The lift should also display the names of the engineers who can be contacted in case of an emergency.
INSIST THAT EVERY LIFT DISPLAYS THE PROCEDURE TO BE FOLLOWED IN CASE OF STALLING AND THE RESCUE OPERATIONS TO BE TAKEN UP SUBSEQUENTLY