Elevator accidents in Massachusetts are a top concern for members of the Board of Elevator Regulations. These regulators oversee the installation, construction, operation and alteration of elevators throughout the state. “Elevator” is used to describe vertical reciprocating conveyors, material lifts, moving walks, dumbwaiters, moving stairways, automatic people movers, dumbwaiters with automatic transfer devices and other similar devices that are used within the elevator industry, according to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Everyone working within this industry including repair people, maintenance workers, elevator constructors and operators, are required to be licensed by the board.
Our Leominster elevator accident lawyers understand that elevators and escalators cause deadly injuries to nearly 50 people every year nationwide. In addition to these fatalities, accidents involving these devices injure another 20,000 people ever year. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Consumer Product Safety Commission, elevators specifically cause roughly 90 percent of these fatalities and another 60 percent of these injuries. Injuries to people who work near or on elevators account for about 15 percent of these fatalities every year. Some of the most common causes of death involving elevators include falls into the shaft, getting caught between moving parts and collapsing elevator platforms.
That’s why the Board of Elevator Regulations is here, to help to reduce the risks of these kinds of accidents. The board is made up of eight people who have been appointed to serve by the governor. These members serve under the authority of Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 143, sections 62-71G.
Every single elevator in the state, excluding those in single-family, owner-occupied houses, is required to pass a practical test and an inspection every year. Elevators in single-family, owner-occupied houses are required to be inspected every five years. If a new elevator is installed anywhere in the state, it must be inspected by an official. If an elevator is altered in any way, it must also be inspected again.
As soon as an elevator passes this inspection, the ‘certificate of inspection’ must be displayed. The owner of each elevator is required to make sure that the elevator is inspected in a timely manner.
Elevator Safety Tips:
-Before boarding an elevator, stand aside to allow room for exiting riders.
-Hold children and pets closely and firmly.
-Take the stairs if there’s a fire!
-Hold the handrail once you’ve boarded.
-Keep an eye on the floor indicators. Be ready to exit when you arrive at your floor.
-Never try to force the doors open or closed.
-If an elevator stops, never try to escape it. Sit tight and wait for assistance.
-If an elevator’s floor isn’t level with the floor you’re on or wish to get off on, stay put.
-If the doors do not open when the elevator stops, push the “Door Open” button.
-If the elevator gets stuck, stay calm. There is plenty of air and the interior of the elevator is designed for passenger safety.
-Don’t try to stop a closing door with anything, including hands, feet, personal belongings etc. Just wait for the next elevator.
-Hang on and wait for the next car if the elevator is full. Never try to squeeze in.
If you or someone in your family has been injured in an elevator accident in Massachusetts, contact Boston Injury Attorney Jeffrey S. Glassman to schedule a free and confidential appointment to discuss your case. Call 877-617-5333.
More Blog Entries:
National Elevator Escalator Safety Awareness Week to Help Prevent Injury in Massachusetts and Elsewhere, Boston Personal Injury Attorney Blog, October 25, 2011