Lift accidents: What to know and how to react

by Glenn Ong

THIS is becoming worrisome. A recent spate of incidents involving lift malfunctions has caused much alarm among many Singaporeans. According to the Building and Construction Authority (BCA), there have been only 10 reported lift incidents since 2013. Yet, the death of a 77-year-old man on May 16 is already the fourth reported incident in the last seven months.

The first incident happened on October 9, 2015, when Madam Khoo Bee Hua’s left hand was severed by an elevator in Block 322, Tah Ching Road. Her dog, which had been on a leash attached to her left wrist, did not enter the lift with Madam Khoo before the doors closed. As the leash was only 2mm thick, the sensors – which can only recognise obstructions at least 10mm thick – had failed to detect the object, causing it to tighten around her hand as the elevator ascended. An Authorised Examiner (AE) appointed to conduct an independent investigation concluded that the “lift door protective devices did not fail”.

The second incident took place in January 2016, when a lift in Block 114, Edgefield Plains in Punggol, was suspended after the inner door failed to close as the lift ascended the block – most lifts usually have two doors, an outer lobby door and an inner lift door. Nobody was injured in this incident.

Then, on March 7, a lift in Block 317, Ang Mo Kio Street 31, shot up 17 floors abruptly, causing 36-year-old Indonesian domestic helper Evi Lisnawati to fall and hit her back. After Essential Maintenance Service Unit (EMSU) failed to free her, she was finally released from her 90-minute ordeal when the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) successfully rescued her with the help of a lift technician. The lift in the block is 22 years old.

The fourth incident – the most recent – took place on May 16. Mr Lim Hang Chiang was exiting a lift in Block 247, Pasir Ris Street 21 when his mobility scooter toppled over, causing him to fall off and hit his head. He then suffered a skull fracture and a brain haemorrhage, and later slipped into a coma. He was pronounced dead less than a day later. It was reported that the lift had stopped 15cm above the ground. The victim’s wife had herself suffered an injury earlier this year due to a similar lift fault. Residents have complained regarding the 24-year-old lift, but little was done to address the problem.

“Help, I’m trapped in a lift!”

So, what should you do if you find yourself in a similarly distressing situation?

In an email response to TMG, Lieutenant Shafi Rafie from the SCDF’s Public Affairs Department said that you should press the alarm bell and wait for help to arrive, and “not attempt to force open the lift doors”. In addition, you should call the EMSU hotline, which is displayed inside every lift. Conversely, if you are within private property or condominium premises, call the management office for assistance.

If you are outside a lift and notice that there are people trapped in it, call the EMSU hotline, which is also located at every lift lobby. Maintenance services and lift technicians will first attempt to unlock the lift using their keys. If that fails, they will alert the SCDF, which will then decide whether or not to force their way and pry the doors open, depending on the severity of the incident. He added that you should not call 999 or 995 “unless there is a life-threatening situation or a need for the emergency medical services”.

More information on safety protocols can be found in the SCDF’s 8th Edition Civil Defence Emergency Handbook.

Ascertaining facts and busting myths

Contrary to popular belief, old lifts aren’t necessarily unsafe. The age of the lift has little to do with whether it is fit for service. Rather, more important factors include the regularity and intensity of maintenance works, and the quality of the parts used.

A lift is replaced once every 28 years on average, and lift maintenance is carried out once a month by contractors registered with the respective town councils. These monthly maintenance works, which include brake tests and inspections of sensors and cables, are required by law.

The BCA has stated in response to media queries that some accidents, such as in Madam Khoo’s case, “could not have been avoided” even if the lift was equipped with multi-beam sensors. The existence of “blind spots” between the sensors means that objects that are too small – such as the 2mm leash Madam Khoo used – will still escape detection.

Under current regulations, lifts must be fitted with protective devices that force doors to open when obstructions are detected. This is made possible by mechanical safety devices, which, when pushed back by force, will reopen lift doors. In addition, infra-red sensors will only allow lift doors to close when their light paths are not blocked.

According to the BCA, newer lifts under 15 years old come equipped with 2D sensors. These come in multiple beams, located along the entire length of the lift doors. There are also 3D sensor beams, which can detect obstructions near or beyond the lift doors. Yet, these measures are not foolproof. The space between the sensors create “blind spots”, which cannot detect objects that are too fine.

“Who’s who” of lifts and elevators

In every Housing Development Board (HDB) estate, the town council is responsible for managing the lifts, whereas those in condominiums fall under the purview of their respect management personnel. Town councils are beholden to the law to appoint certified lift contractors to service all elevators.

On the other hand, the BCA – an agency under the Ministry of National Development – is tasked with conducting audits on lifts all over the island to ensure that they comply with quality and sustainability standards.

Authorised examiners (AE) are appointed by town councils to carry out independent investigations in the event of a mishap. They then submit their findings to the BCA, which also conducts separate investigations into the matter. Their findings are then published, and recommendations will follow.

On the horizon

So what is being done to address these lapses? For now, the G has requested the BCA to increase the frequency and rigour of lift inspections and maintenance works. Current measures adopted by the BCA include distributing posters to raise public awareness on proper lift usage (they have issued 140,000 so far), issuing circulars to remind lift contractors to be vigilant, and conducting seminars to share investigation and audit findings.

The BCA is also looking at ways to “strengthen the capacity” of lift technicians, including introducing a “performance-based regime” to ensure proper standards of lift maintenance. It is also conducting reviews to improve its “lift safety framework”.

Lastly, it will complete its review of lift regulations by this year, and this is likely to result in changes to the legislation. Town councils may also be required to set aside a portion of their sinking fund for lift renewal or replacement works in future.

 

Featured image of decay by Flickr user Gyver Chang CC BY-ND 2.0.

If you like this article, Like The Middle Ground‘s Facebook Page as well!

For breaking news, you can talk to us via email.

The post Lift accidents: What to know and how to react appeared first on The Middle Ground.

- Glenn Ong