Elevator and Escalator Failure Investigations

Abstract

The investigation of an elevator / escalator failure has two goals. Obviously, the primary concern of the investigator is to determine the cause of the injury producing situation. In addition to the gathering and preservation of information and data in one of these investigations, it is also important to consider the preservation of the investigator. By this I mean, the investigation of an operating elevator and/or escalator can be, in itself, a dangerous undertaking. In the case of an elevator accident, as in many industrial accidents, the offending device is still in the same location it was at the time of the accident. In order to investigate or inspect an elevator, it is necessary to enter the dragons lair. It may be necessary to climb around on the top of, or underneath an elevator car, move around in the hoistway pit, or hang perilously in space while taking measurements, photographs, or watching the operation of devices. If you have a fear of heights, then elevator ins