CAI HOA Conference – Rosemont, IL

We attend a few conventions each year where we set up a booth and talk to property managers, board members and property owners.  I am used to going to the elevator conventions where I am walking around so it is always interesting to be on the other side of the fence.   The HOA convention took place on 2/23 & 2/24. This is a place where anyone who deals with HOA’s can go and see about paving, concrete work, CPAs, attorney’s, roofers, etc and get information and/or meet the people they talk on the phone with.

The CAI HOA 36^th Annual conference at the Donald J Stephens Convention Center – Rosemont, IL was great!   We got to see a lot of familiar faces and met some new faces too. The feedback you here from your existing customers is great as well as feedback from people who use other companies.

These are always good to go to and experience.  I would say there where over 1,500 people at the show[including booth workers]. We have two more coming in April and June.

For more information - https://www.cai-illinois.org

*Tom Sybert from CJ Anderson is everywhere I met another Sybert relative during the show.  Small world!

As always feel free to contact us at www.colleyelevator.com, email Craigz@colleyelevator.com or call 630-766-7230.

Rockstar Energy – Elevator World – Craig Zomchek profile

Once upon a time I wrote for and had been interviewed in many music publications in my past life.  I've read Elevator World for years so this was a pretty cool thing to participate in.  Thank you to Kaija for working with me on the profile.  My last professional magazine piece was on the back page of Maxim Magazine in 2007[If you are curious ask me about it].  

As always feel free to contact us at www.colleyelevator.com, email Craigz@colleyelevator.com or call 630-766-7230.

Elevator maintenance – building owner cooperation/exterminator

I was at a building with two elevators that we will be doing work on.  I met the incumbent elevator company’s maintenance tech out there and he told me to look out for the roaches.  I looked in the one pit and car top and it they where clean as a whistle.  I wasn't sure what the guy was talking about.  When I went to do the engineering take off on the other car it was a roach party!  Anyone ever see the TV show Joe’s Apartment?

I spend a lot of time talking about the three pillars when it comes to elevator maintenance.  Companies, mechanics and building owners.  In this case the building owner needs to step up their responsibility.  

[Hard to tell unless you look close]

At first glance I was confused why the one car top and pit was cleaned and this one was not.  Then I saw a few of our six-legged friends, then some more, then some more. I don’t have an issue with roaches so I ended up cleaning the pit out of the roaches because it is just easier if I do it.  Yes, I know about roach eggs.  I have no expectations of anyone who I work with to feel the same way.  A roach problem is a building problem.  Meaning the building should kill them, then remove them.  The elevator professional can open the pit door for the person cleaning the dead roaches. Warning, this takes several visits to get roaches to a manageable state.  The building appears to be doing the exterminating but not the cleaning.

[At least they left a broom]

Company & mechanic – It is our responsibility to tell the building to evict the current elevator pit six legged residents and clean the pit.  

Building owner – You provide the exterminator and cleaning crew to remove the dead bugs.  We will open the pit door for you.

A few roaches is unpleasant and creepy but acceptable but more than a few, you need professional exterminator help.  

As always feel free to contact us at www.colleyelevator.com, email Craigz@colleyelevator.com or call 630-766-7230.

Elevator worker fatalities - Texas & New York

In the last month there have been two elevator worker fatalities.  One is too many.  

1/11/18 – EL Paso Texas a young husband and father was killed on the top of the 9^th floor leaving a wife and 2 year old behind.  It is speculated that the death was caused by an electrocution.  The elevator worker worked at Abell Elevator who is a non signatory company from Kentucky.  There is a gofundme page for donations to his family. While we are on different sides of the labor fence I did donate because no family should have to go through this.

http://www.elpasoproud.com/news/young-father-identified-as-victim-in-beaumont-elevator-accident/910990342

https://www.gofundme.com/brandonsfarewell/

1/23/18 – Manhattan, New York– It appears that the person working in the hoistway was not tied off and fell down the elevator shaft. The elevator worker worked at U-Tek Elevator, Inc who is a non signatory company.

http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/manhattan/construction-worker-dies-fall-gramercy-park-site-article-1.3773861

As an industry we must continue to move to a zero-injury expectation.  These two incidents are reminders that we must work safe everyday so we can come home.  Our craft is a skilled and dangerous one, be aware of your surroundings at all times.  One accident is too many.

Elevator worker – Do tasks safely, have a process, make sure everyone is on the same page for the process.  If a situation is unsafe have your supervisor explain how to complete the task safely or request an alternate safe process.  Do not get complacent. 

Building owner – This is a reminder know who you are hiring and be aware of work place safety.  You are an important part of the safety equation. 

Elevator contractor – Give your employees the tools & processes to work safe.

As always feel free to contact us at www.colleyelevator.com, email Craigz@colleyelevator.com or call 630-766-7230.