The forensic experts at Robson Forensic are frequently retained to investigate injuries and construction claims related to elevators and escalators. In this document our elevator experts have provided…
In this article our elevator experts have compiled statistics and valuable information pertaining to elevator safety, the most common types of passenger incidents, and some of the standards relevant to elevators.
Modern advances in technology, along with stringent inspection and maintenance requirements have developed a strong track record for elevator safety. In the 2021 edition of their Injury Facts report, the National Safety Council reported only 18,810 injuries related to vertical transportation.
While it is generally accepted that elevators are a safe and reliable mode of transportation, preventable injuries continue to occur. The experts at Robson Forensic have been retained to investigate more than 1,000 injuries involving elevators, the majority of which fall into 3 general categories:
Errant Door Function - 37%
Incidents where the doors fail to open or close properly. Incidents may involve a rider/passenger being struck and knocked off-balance by the door, while others may involve riders being caught between the doors, or trapped within the elevator.
Abrupt Starts/Stops – 27%
Incidents involve a sudden and unusual movement of the elevator car that often causes riders to fall or collide with other riders and/or objects in the car. Incidents can be related to power loss or over speed conditions, causing activation of the elevator safeties.
Misleveling – 25%
Incidents where the elevator fails to stop level with the finished floor. Resulting injuries commonly involve trips and falls while passing through the threshold of the car. This condition will sometimes result in entrapment, an industry specific term to describe a car that has stopped between floors.
Other – 11%
These incidents do not fit neatly into the above mentioned categories and include a range of issues; some involve the injury of maintenance workers, including electrical shocks and falls into the hoistway; others involve non-mechanical issues that injure riders, such as slips and falls on flooring, or injuries from falling ceiling or wall panels caused by erratic operation of the elevator.
No matter the cause or severity of injury in your case, there is a strong chance that our experts have investigated a similar incident.
In the United States, elevators and escalators are subject to state and municipal codes, which often conform to ANSI/ASME guidelines covering design, construction, operation, inspection, testing, maintenance, alteration, and repair. The local codes may also incorporate other national standards related to building and life safety such as OSHA, NFPA and ADA.
The Elevator and Escalator experts at Robson Forensic have the necessary training, education and experience to investigate a broad range of mishaps involving elevators, escalators and other forms of vertical transportation equipment encompassed under the A17.1 and associated Safety Codes. Our elevator and escalator experts are industry veterans who have worked for manufacturers, installation contractors, and maintenance companies. They understand how this specialized equipment is designed to function and can reliably identify if a malfunction in a landing system or other associated system component contributed to the injury or loss in your case.
For more information, submit an inquiry or call us at 800.813.6736.
The forensic experts at Robson Forensic are frequently retained to investigate injuries and construction claims related to elevators and escalators. In this document our elevator experts have provided…
The forensic experts at Robson Forensic are frequently retained to investigate injuries and construction claims related to elevators and escalators. In this document our escalator experts have…
Door strikes are one of the most common elevator injuries. A door strike can cause passenger injuries due to being knocked over, into other passengers/objects, or being caught in the elevator doors.…