TLC Insights

⚠IMPORTANT INFO!⚠

When individuals find themselves trapped in a lift, panic is a common response that can escalate the situation and lead to potential risks. Panic may arise from the confined space, the lack of control, or fear of being trapped for an extended period. In this state of distress, people may attempt to force the doors open, unaware that modern lifts are equipped with safety mechanisms designed to prevent such actions. Tampering with the doors or forcing them open can cause severe injuries or even result in fatalities if the lift suddenly starts moving.

While mechanical failures or malfunctions can contribute to incidents in lifts, they are relatively rare occurrences due to stringent safety regulations and regular maintenance checks. Modern lifts should undergo rigorous inspections to ensure their proper functioning and mitigate the risk of accidents. However, in rare cases, technical glitches or unforeseen malfunctions can cause a lift to stop or behave unexpectedly due to a myriad of reasons.

To enhance safety and minimise risks in such situations, it is crucial for individuals to follow proper guidelines and stay aware of their surroundings. Staying calm is of utmost importance, as panic can impair judgment and lead to hasty decisions.

What to do if you are stuck in a lift;

1.  Stay calm: It’s natural to feel anxious or panicked in such situations but try to stay calm. Remember that help is on the way once the maintenance provider has been notified.
2. Check for communication: Look for an emergency intercom or alarm button inside the lift. These are typically located near the control panel or on the side walls. Use it to alert the either the maintenance provider’s call centre or building personnel about the situation.
3. Call for help: If there’s no emergency intercom or it’s not working, use your mobile phone to call for help. Provide them with the details of your location and the fact that you’re stuck in the lift.
4. Do not attempt to force the doors open: It’s important to refrain from trying to pry the doors open yourself. Modern lifts are equipped with safety mechanisms that prevent the doors from opening in between floors, and tampering with them could be dangerous.
5. Await assistance: Once you’ve alerted the appropriate authorities, be patient and wait for help to arrive. Building management or an elevator technician will respond promptly to coordinate rescue efforts and resolve the issue.
6. Stay near the floor: If you feel more comfortable sitting or leaning against something, choose the floor of the lift closest to the ground. This can help reduce any potential injuries in case of a sudden jolt when the lift starts moving again.

Remember, these steps are general guidelines, and you should follow any specific instructions provided by the lift’s emergency system or the professionals you contact for assistance.

⚠ Stay Safe, Stay Alert!⚠

Good Morning Everyone!

⚠ Please read below ⚠
(WARNING: Photos may be Graphic for some readers)

Last week, a harrowing incident occurred at Sydney Domestic Airport when a four-year-old girl’s shoe (a popular clog type) got caught in an escalator. The girl had been traveling down the escalator when she began to shout for her mother, indicating her shoe was stuck. Her mother tried to free her shoe from the running unit, but unfortunately, it wouldn’t budge. Thankfully, a gentleman who had been traveling down the escalator behind them realised what was happening and quickly ran past them to activate the emergency stop switch. Once they got the girl’s foot out of the escalator, it was apparent that she had sustained serious injuries. Her foot was heavily bruised, the skin was extensively damaged, and her middle toe was broken. If the stop button hadn’t been activated before the girl reached the bottom of the unit, she may have lost her foot. While the reason for the incident remains unclear, some reports suggest that the footwear may have melted due to friction caused by the little girl’s foot rubbing against the escalator’s metal.

We are relieved to report that the girl is recovering at home with her mother and should make a full physical recovery. However, she is now mentally scared and terrified of escalators. This incident serves as a reminder to everyone who travels on escalators and moving walkways of the potential dangers that exist when travelling on moving plant.

It also made us think about how many people are aware of where the stop button on an escalator or moving walkway is located. Typically, most escalators and moving walkways have a stop button located at the very top and bottom of the unit, at foot level. However, longer, and newer units will have stop buttons located in the middle of unit as well, sometimes on pedestals or within the glass balustrade. The next time you travel on an escalator or moving walkway, take a moment to locate the stop switches, as you may need to activate them to prevent someone from being seriously injured or even killed.

Stay safe out there and be mindful of where stop switches are located – they could be the difference between a broken toe and a lost foot.

(Also can you spot the stop switch in the last photo? Answers on a postcard). 🛑

Is a lift pit, shaft, machine room a confined space? ☢

In Australia, a confined space is defined as an enclosed or partially enclosed space that is not designed or intended for human occupancy, except for the purpose of performing work, and has restricted means of access and egress. It may become hazardous to personnel entering it due to its design, construction, location, atmosphere, materials or substances in it, or any other conditions relating to it.

A ‘confined space’ means an enclosed or partially enclosed space that:
• is not designed or intended primarily to be occupied by a person; and
• is, or is designed or intended to be, at normal atmospheric pressure while any person is in the space; and
• is, or is likely to be, a risk to health and safety from:
• an atmosphere that does not have a safe oxygen level
• contaminants, including airborne gases, vapours and dusts, that may cause injury from fire or explosion
• harmful concentrations of any airborne contaminants engulfment

but does not include a mine shaft or the workings of a mine.

Classifying lift pits, machine rooms, and shafts, as a confined space or not is a contentious issue. Factors such as the means of entry and exit, the atmosphere within the space, and the potential for hazardous materials or substances to be present should all be considered.

Labelling a lift well and lift pit a confined space is a highly contentious issue inside and outside of the Vertical Transportation Industry.

Let’s have a look at some facts! 

• A lift pit typically requires a ladder for access with the exception of pit doors, meaning there is a restricted means of entry and exit. 
 • Lift Pits are not designed for continuous human occupancy since they generally cannot be occupied during normal lift operation.
 • In most cases the atmosphere breathed by the lift technician will be the same that is breathed by passengers within the lift cabin. However, there are exceptions where this is not always the case like lift pits installed in car parks, treatment plant and power stations where harmful gasses can potentially settle.

The decision on whether a lift pit, machine room, or shaft should be classified as a confined space ultimately depends on the specific circumstances of the installation and the results of a risk assessment. The flow chart provided by Safe Work Australia can be a useful tool in identifying confined spaces, but it should be used in conjunction with a thorough risk assessment to ensure that all hazards are properly identified and controlled.

So, I ask you, is a lift pit, shaft, machine room a confined space?