Elevator emergency response is a critical issue for any building operator. It involves the safe removal of a passenger who becomes entrapped in an elevator.
This can happen anytime, and for many reasons. An elevator may be stuck, its power supply could be cut off, or the elevator brakes could have stopped working. Regardless of the cause, the first step in elevator emergency response is to find out what caused the situation and determine how to respond.
If you think someone is trapped in an elevator, call the elevator emergency phone number to let University Police know that help needs to be brought to the scene. They will then notify the corresponding elevator company and Electrical Shop supervisor.
Once the elevator is stopped, try to stay calm and wait for assistance. This is especially important if there are no doors or an overhead hatch, because it can be dangerous to try to pry the door open.
While you wait, it is important to reassure the trapped person(s) that help is on the way and that they should remain calm. They may be tempted to try to get out of the elevator by themselves, but it is best to wait for trained personnel to assist them.
The elevator doors should be kept closed to prevent them from opening while the elevator is moving, which can lead to serious injury. During this time, the rescue team should work to open the http://www.interconmessaging.com/telephone-answering-reception-solutions/ hoistway doors on the top of the stalled elevator car using the emergency door key or a hoistway unlocking device. Once the doors are opened, the rescue team should then descend into the stalled elevator car wearing safety belts and tying off to a secured lifeline.
When the rescue team is inside the stalled elevator, the elevator stop switch should be set in the “STOP” position. Once the switch is in this position, the rescue team should begin evacuating passengers one at a time from within the stalled elevator car.
It is essential that the evacuation process be conducted by trained elevator personnel to ensure that each passenger is safely removed from the stalled elevator car and to reduce the university’s liability in case of an accident or injury. The National Elevator Code recommends the evacuation of passengers from stalled elevator cars under direct supervision by trained personnel.
Upon arrival at the location of the stalled elevator, the watch commander will make an assessment as to the severity of the situation and the level of danger. If the emergency is severe, the local fire department will be dispatched for an immediate response.
In most situations, an elevator entrapment will occur because of a mechanical malfunction or due to a power outage. While the situation can be frustrating, it is unlikely that anyone will be seriously injured.
If the situation is minor, the occupants can be helped by a member of the elevator staff or the Fire Department. If the emergency is serious, it can be life-threatening.