Zero tolerance for faulty lifts
Elevator accidents are a serious safety concern for the residents of multi-floor societies and for those who work in high-rise offices. Surveys and reports suggest that thousands of people die every year all over the world in elevator-related accidents. The National Elevator Industry Inc., which is the leading authority on elevator safety, reports that approximately 10,000 people are injured in elevators each year. The main reasons behind this are safety rules which are often being flouted.
Fatalities in lift
accidents
Recently, in a horrific accident at a
high-rise society, namely Paras Tiera in Noida Sector 137, a 70-year-old woman
died after the lift collapsed midway. The
elevator that she boarded had a free fall owing to a cable that snapped. The
elevator did not hit the ground but was caught between some of the middle
floors of the building. Following the incident, hundreds of residents of the
society gathered and protested against the AOA.
Residents demanded the immediate resignation of the society president as it was alleged that the AOA president was often negligent of his responsibilities. They were of the view that this incident was bound to happen. They further claimed that the residents had to wait for 30 minutes to take the lift. Every day, the lift posed problems but no one looked into it despite several complaints.
The lifts of society had not been functioning properly for
the last several months. Complaints have been submitted to the society
representatives several times requesting them to refurbish the lifts,
but no action was taken. The society maintenance had been handed over
from the builder to the 'Apartment Owners Association' just three months back and
since then, the society was not being maintained properly by the president of
the society AOA.
According to
reports in newspapers, the annual maintenance contract (AMC) for the maintenance of the lift
had expired two months ago. The investigation officials, who have
already started the probe into the incident, said that the lift was not
registered with the authorities.
An elevator, commonly known
as a lift, is an essential element in the architectural design of apartment
living. While it makes life extremely convenient when one has to reach different floors, it can be risky too if it is malfunctioning. Wherever lifts are deployed, the safety of passengers must be given utmost importance. It is the primary responsibility of the maintenance owner to take due care of the lift for the
safety of the residents/employees of the society so that the lift users are
completely safe. It has been observed that most of the accidents have taken place due
to malfunctioning and ignorance of faulty ones.
Who is responsible for lift maintenance?
If the maintenance of the apartment lift is
observed from time to time, it improves the operating performance, keeps a
check on the safety aspect of the residents, and also helps in increasing the life of
the lift.
If the maintenance of lifts is with the
builder, then the responsibility of maintenance goes to the builder and if the
charge has been transferred to AAO, then AAO team is responsible for that.
Further, it should be ensured that lifts are maintained as per the manufacturer's
specifications. It should be periodically inspected by a qualified elevator
maintenance professional. As soon as a fault of any sort is brought to the
notice of the builder or the AAO, either of the two may take serious note of
it or go ahead for immediate action for fault repairs.
There should be a contract signed with any one of these and it should be
known not only to the builder or the AAO but also to all the residents so that
they can contact and verify when the maintenance was done before and whether
the same is being done on time or not. It should be known to all.
An elevator is probably the most noticed part of your
building’s infrastructure because people do not just see it from afar but step
inside and use it. For elderly people and people who are physically challenged,
an elevator is necessary even in homes that do not have several floors.
How often do lifts require maintenance?
Lifts that are heavily used may require more frequent servicing. Elevator
inspection is important for maintenance and should not be skipped. They help
keep your lifts working safely without any unforeseen breakdowns.
The most common reason for an elevator malfunction is the doors not opening or closing. The design of the lift restricts its use; always use it correctly. Educating users is a basic thing to maintaining your lift. Checking on a daily basis should be implemented to reduce lift malfunction. A comprehensive elevator inspection checklist can help ensure the safety of users and cut costs on lift repairs.
Without a maintenance plan, a malfunctioning elevator part can go unnoticed until a major repair is necessary. This major repair can be very costly and creates inconvenient usage downtime — especially in buildings where elderly or ailing residents need to travel to their homes above the first floor. The builder or AAO should have a detailed emergency plan in place also. The plan should be simple enough to reassure stranded passengers and let them know that help is in place. Also, the lift’s safety alarm and help button must work well.
No negligence at any cost
Just as it is
mandatory for every member of society to pay the maintenance cost every
month, in the same way, the repair, maintenance, and regular check-up of the lift
should be done on a priority basis. It is a crime to do any kind of
negligence in this because the safety of the people is connected
to the lift.
Regular and timely inspection is extremely important to ensure the safety of elevator users in order to avoid any unprecedented incidents. For this, a certain amount should be reserved in the fund and full transparency should be reflected in it.
As per reports, the recent incident at Paras Tiera Society of Noida clearly indicates negligence on the part of the AAO team. It is evident that the inspection of elevators on a periodic basis was not done. It is to be noted that elevator-related incidents injure about 17,000 people every year in the United States only. This shows the state of affairs.
Accidents or incidents,
arising out of non-maintenance of Lifts, to life & Property, are no less than criminal offenses, which would lead up to imprisonment, of building care-takers.
Non-Maintenance of Lift, is within the parameters of deliberate “Negligence
& Deficiency”, under the Consumer Protection Laws, leading to levy of heavy
to heavy damages and compensations to the aggrieved complainant.
Safety rules must be followed
Although elevators have many safety features, safety rules must be followed. However, its misuse is also seen. People ranging from rambunctious kids to mischievous teenagers and unsuspecting adults have been found in elevators, they don't always do what they should be doing. Unnecessary misuse, overloading, and other unpleasant behavior in lifts are also seen. These actions cause parts to be overworked or broken and one day the worst things will happen to an elevator.
Many countries have made very
strict rules regarding the operation of lifts and escalators, due to which very
few accidents happen. So, strict emphasis should be made on regular inspection and maintenance. This is one reason that, while
malfunctions do happen, they are rare. We should look towards modern elevators that have a wide
variety of safety backups, such as multiple cables and electromagnetic brakes.
Rules
concerning lifts are not known by many in India. The construction, maintenance, and safe working of lifts are regulated by the Lifts Acts and Rules made in
certain States. Lift licenses are currently required in 10 Indian States,
including Maharashtra, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala, West Bengal,
Assam, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, and Delhi.
As per IS
14665 Part 4 of Section 3 Clause 5.8, mirrors can be used inside the elevator
car. However, it is recommended that they should be splinter-proof and not
cause injury to passengers in case they are broken due to any abnormalities.
The safety of lifts is also covered under the above regulations.
The
Electrical Inspector, along with Assistant Electrical Inspectors, is
responsible to take action against defaulters. In Delhi NCR, the Inspector
inspects lifts in all buildings to ensure they are in compliance with the Delhi
Lift Rules, 1942. In addition to issuing licenses and No Objection Certificates
(NOCs) to lift adhering to the provisions of the Act, the Inspector also
issues notices to defaulters for rectification of defects.
Lift
licenses are not required in a few states but you might need permission from the
local authorities or you have to contact the nearest administrative or
Municipal office for the same. The process of installing an elevator does not
end here as there are several post-installation tests that are done to ensure
the safety and security of users. Also, there is a Central Vigilance Commission
(CVC) guidelines framed to regulate the safety of lifts in public
buildings.
Phobia
for the fear of elevators
My conversations with several people have also made me conclude that a lot of people have elevator
phobia as well. Elevator phobia is a genuine fear that affects many
people. This anxiety can develop due to various reasons, such as fear of
enclosed spaces, fear of heights, or fear of being trapped. Proper maintenance and regular
inspection will build confidence among them.
As reports
received on this scenario are horrible and highlight the problem of
ill-maintained lifts. A recent national survey conducted by a private company
revealed that 58 percent of participants — 44 percent in Hyderabad — who use
lifts have had one or more family members getting stuck in the last three
years.
Taking strict steps in this regard from the
Central Government, uniform regulation should be made across the country, under
which the scale of regular audit and inspection should be fixed so that at any
cost, the builder or the AAO team should not overlook it and ensure the safety
of the lives of the residents.
Regular inspection and maintenance of lifts installed in multi-storey high rise buildings is extremely necessary. And since such incidents have started increasing, this danger has increased even more. There is a law as well but the agencies responsible for its implementation are not that active. You have written very correctly and I am mentioning - Taking strict steps in this regard from the Central Government, uniform regulation should be made across the country, under which the scale of regular audit and inspection should be fixed so that at any cost, the builder or the AAO team should not overlook it and ensure the safety of the lives of the residents.
ReplyDeleteI am very pleased you agree with my suggestion and believe the elevators should be regularly inspected and maintained.
ReplyDelete