Seemed fitting to show the race car while here in Atlanta. www.eesf.org

Last show of January and you know what that means….it’s our prize pack giveaway. Next week there will be no show as I will be traveling to Atlanta, GA to attend the Annual Meeting for the Elevator Escalator Safety Foundation. I’m excited about the meeting and wish I could stay longer. More information on the accident in NY has surfaced and it’s going to get a lot uglier as the DA gets involved with the investigation. I can’t say it enough, we as an industry need to make sure that training is our number one priority. Sure it’s important to learn about the code but when you get right down to it if there are people out there working on elevators and escalators who are not properly trained they are doing the job incorrectly each and every day. For states that require continuing education credits each year, make them count. It’s not enough to simply just learn about the code. Safety and understanding what can happen if the job is not done correctly is just as important. No one knows it all and each day we all need to learn something new.

Special thanks to the companies who have donated goodies to it!

Fujitec America, GAL, The National Association of Elevator Contractors, The National Association of Elevator Safety Authorities, The Elevator Escalator Safety Foundation, Peelle, C.J. Anderson, Truxes, EMS Group, Elevator Bob’s Elevator Pictures, Minnesota Elevator, ElevatorGear.com, ElevatorShack.com, ElevatorU.org, Elevator World Magazine, Elevator Cab Renovations, The Elevator Preservation Blog, ECS Corporation, Parts Specialists, Elevatormanstories.com, Elevator Riders Riding Club, Elevator History Museum, Code Data Plate.com and  Certified Conveyance Training Corp.

News/Article Links:
Officials state elevator maintenance cause death
DA delves into NY elevator horror – Time out jumper anyone?
12 elevators you need to see to believe
Baby born in elevator
Schindler Port elevator video
The importance of working escalators in mass transit
Engineer testifies escalator was overloaded
Escalator lawsuit settled
How safe are your elevators
EW Unplugged Photo of the Week: WOW!
WTC Trade Center Progress
Dog vs. Elevator Doors – Dog wins
Child loses part of foot in escalator
World Elevator Report Out
Richard Hill, 85, Dies
Courthouse Elevators operating after repairs
Elevator issues lead to Carlsbad Caverns delays
Seniors stuck in elevator
Nowata County approves elevator upgrade
Elevator broke at senior apartment building
CJA Antique elevator fixtures video

I’m back after a short trip to Louisville, KY which I enjoyed a great deal. But it’s catch up time not only at work but on the show as well.  There are quite a few good articles on the program today as I cover two weeks worth of content. As Winter descends upon us here in the Midwest with our first snowfall of the year I’m looking forward to Spring and am counting the days. Thanks for tuning into the show today everyone.  Stay warm and be safe out there.

News/Article Links:
Woman Dies when she rides elevator up to fire floor
Chicago Officials deny old elevator for death of woman
Fire death blamed on multiple items
Preparing for the next fire
Numerous problems with elevator where NY Woman died
More on accident above
Toddler found dangling in Dandenong lift shaft
Broken Metro Elevator Blogger lashes out
Scary elevator death could have been stopped
Elevator repairman cut to pieces in Sharajah lift
UK: Girl looses part of finger to escalator
Giants Stadium escalator trial to resume
Crockett Hotel Sued after fatal elevator accident
ESCO Hydraulic Elevator Video
EIGSC New President’s Message
Old Elevator Dumbwaiter
Escalator Meltdown in Midtown
Escalator company settles, case proceeds against NJ SA
Antique Haughton elevator car hand switch
EW Unplugged Photo of the Week
Delaware Traction elevator at Harrington Towers
Man found in bottom of elevator shaft
Why is this story covered online?
Signs prove effective in prompting people to use stairs
Elevator crippling
Elevator costs raise councils ire
Tenants fret after man falls to death in elevator shaft
Interesting Ad
MTA’s $57M Elevator Plan Makes Enemies
State has $1 Million plan for overdue elevator safety inspections
City reassures nervous workforce after elevator tragedy
Remembering Dr. King

Happy New Year every one. Let’s hope that 2012 proves to be a safer one when it comes to vertical transportation equipment and fewer and fewer accident articles are covered relating to accidents on this program. 2011 had some of the worst accidents in one year, most of which happened in December. And as if both accidents in California and New York weren’t enough another fatality occurred in Texas just last week. I’m not sure there’s a better time for each of us to step up our game in order to make sure these types of accidents don’t occur ever again.  The recent accidents seem to provide evidence that our industry is not headed down the right path. Does lack of training on all fronts appear to be catching up to us? Are we going to accept the same excuses of budgetary constraints as reasons why elevators are not inspected and safe? Are we going to continue to cut each other’s throats on maintenance contracts or not perform maintenance at all? I’d like to ask the unpopular question; if this is where we are at right now, where will we be 10 years from now. This is only the beginning…..

News/Article Links:
Escalator in Columbia sets world record
Boy in fatally injured on elevator
Mitsubishi will have fastest elevator
Cool vintage elevator photo
Lawsuit filed in Manhattan Accident
Woman Dies in Elevator Accident – TX
Parents want law changed after disabled son dropped on escalator
Inside look of a British Cold war bunker
Man dies after three story fall from escalator
Man freed after being trapped in times building elevator
Focus on elevator and escalator safety
No CEA Meeting in January
Firefighters breach wall in NYC Elevator rescue
EW Unplugged Photo the Week
Interesting NY 1910 Stats
Scary Tweet
KONE Strengthens Environmental Leadership
Dupont Circle South Escalators to Close for part of 2012
City of Chicago ProjectDox
EIGSC December Shaft
Elevator Enthusiast finds hobby has Ups and Downs
Elevator through aquarium
Update Mechanic indicted
Capital Employee Garage Austin
Replacing a worn elevator emulator

Last show of the year and I’m ready to put this one behind us. Next week I’ll do my best to put a recap of 2011 together, it’s always something that sounds like a great idea, however when the time comes to actually doing it, it’s quite a daunting task to complete. Thanks to all of you who sent in e-mails regarding the elevator accident in NY and in CA. While most of you wanted to remain anonymous, it’s refreshing to see that there are others who are concerned and who are also true elevator advocates.  It’s another prize pack give away and the last one of the year.

Special thanks to the companies who have donated goodies to it!

Fujitec America, GAL, The National Association of Elevator Contractors, The National Association of Elevator Safety Authorities, The Elevator Escalator Safety Foundation, Peelle, C.J. Anderson, Truxes, EMS Group, Elevator Bob’s Elevator Pictures, Minnesota Elevator, ElevatorGear.com, ElevatorShack.com, ElevatorU.org, Elevator World Magazine, Elevator Cab Renovations, The Elevator Preservation Blog, ECS Corporation, Parts Specialists, Elevatormanstories.com, Elevator Riders Riding Club, Elevator History Museum, Code Data Plate.com and  Certified Conveyance Training Corp.

News/Article Links:
CA Elevator investigation continues
10 Tragic Elevator accidents
Very cool vertical elevator
Elevator camera shows girl before jump
Tips for elevator mechanics, elevator grafitti
Escalator repairs could mean longer walks at Sea-Tac
Exposed elevator shaftway
Scared of elevators before?
NY Accident, Premises Liability
Santa takes the escalator
Hmmm, $200,000 to nowhere
Site of fatal elevator mishap set to re-open
Elevator electrical work under review
Attorney comments on workman charged in case
Car Switch Video
Esca-Stairs
Giant escalator installed in Colombian city
Mitsubishi Electric to strengthen overseas elevator business
As stated last week, there’s a place for people like this
Otis Elevator at Ocean City, MD
New elevator and bathrooms slated for Beverly City Hall
Despite Recent Fatalities are elevators safe?

It’s hard to believe that two terrible elevator accidents happened on the opposite ends of the country, yet the reason for why each occurred will most likely be connected to the same underlying issues.  Never before have I been scared of riding in an elevator, however the accident in New York makes me think twice about doing so.  It seems that whenever accidents like these happen many of us turn our heads and don’t want to say anything while others take a step forward, identifying the issues and making improvements to ensure accidents like this don’t happen in the future. Make the choice to step forward, make a difference, discuss with your coworkers and make improvements that protect everyone who ride and work with elevators and escalators.

News/Article Links:

Concerned Elevator Consultant Speaks Out 2007
Elevator Kills Woman in New York
Complete Video Coverage of Accident in NY
Gothamist Covers Carrajat
Elevator Horror Stories in one nice little article
NY Times Covers Accident
More Light Shed on other accidents
Insight into accident
Unsafe elevation
Failure to maintain elevators
NY Elevator repairman charged with maiming woman
Are elevators really hazardous to your health
Long Beach Elevator Accident Details, investigation continues
Man Suspected of lighting woman on fire in elevator
New product for hydraulic elevators
No one ever bought anything on an elevator?
Elevator Mechanic rises up to call of duty
NEII® Responds to Elevator Safety
Elevating to new Heights. TV Tower Pics
Rekindled interest in elevator safety bill
MCE Tape Reader Fault
Elevator Man Stories Kindle Edition Released
NEII® online Accident Document Source
HUD looks into elevator problems at Thousand Oaks

Elevator Accident: Work Just Completed: MyFoxNY.com

While I’m certain that there will be more articles to follow covering this terrible accident in New York this latest one concerns me greatly. Written by the NY Daily Times, you can read this article in its entirety by clicking the following link.  It’s important to note that this blog post is my own opinion and I’m simply asking questions based on what was mentioned in the article in the link above. The article may not have all the correct facts as I may not as well.  I also am not speculating as to what happening but merely pointing out what is covered in this article. There are two paragraphs that are alarming to me.

http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/york-city-buildings-department-recorded-elevator-violations-building-suzanne-hart-killed-article-1.991759

The first notes that there were a history of defects, “unsatisfactory” inspections and hazardous code violations, but officials Wednesday insisted recent issues involved matters unrelated to safety. This taken verbatim from the article has me a bit puzzled. I’m not an elevator inspector but how is a hazardous code violation unrelated to safety?

Let’s take a look at how haz-ard-ous is defined; 1. Full of risk, perilous, risky 2. Dependent on chance. Synonyms as outlined by the dictionary; 1. dangerous, unsafe 2. chancy, uncertain, risky speculative.

They had me at dangerous. So again I ask, how is hazardous not related to safety? I would assume that any violation should be related to safety.

The next paragraph was equally concerning to me. Of the 56 violations noted since 1999, 34 of them were for “failure to maintain elevators”.  I’m not sure what code the City of New York is under but the A17.1 – 2007 copy that I’ve got has a special section that deals with elevator maintenance in its entirety and it can be found under 8.6. Maintenance, Repair and Replacement. Get a copy of the code book through ASME and take a look through the requirements as outlined by the code.  As far as I’m aware elevators and escalators are machines that must be maintained and 8.6 makes it pretty easy to figure out the steps that need to be taken to do so. I’m pretty sure that even the City of New York requires that 8.6 is followed.

Not that I’m pointing the finger at anyone or speculating what happened,  investigators right now are figuring that out. I can assure you that when they do, it’s not going to be pretty.

If you’re like me and still prefer to feel paper and hold a book when reading in you can still order them this way as well either through www.elevatorbooks.com or www.amazon.com .