Elevator safety – New York City Accident

On Thursday August 22^nd, 2019 there was a fatality due to elevator malfunction.  A 30 year old man, Charles Waibren, was killed when an elevator ran with the doors open pinning him between the top of the elevator and the hoistway.  Two people exited the elevator and the 3^rd person attempted to exit and the car began descending and smashed him.  There where 2 other people who where waiting to exit the elevator who saw the entire scene.

https://www.cnn.com/2019/08/22/us/new-york-elevator-death/index.html

We speak about elevator safety on a regular basis and this is specific incident is one of the reasons why.  The investigation is ongoing and eventually we will find out why this occurred and money will be paid and blame will be placed but the reality is Samuel Waisbren is not going to come home ever again.

The key to elevator safety is the following; Elevator companies need to give elevator mechanics time and resources to maintain and repair elevators properly.  Elevator mechanics need to use time and resources given to them by companies to be vigilant on completing proper maintenance and repairs in a timely and thorough manner.  Building owners need to be responsible for their equipment, pay a reasonable rate for maintenance and repairs and take elevator companies upgrade recommendations seriously.  If one of these three pieces falls out of sync then we will have more accidents and injuries.

On the company side, everyone from the sales person to the technician executing maintenance or repair is responsible for making good decisions, educating building owners and making sure the right thing is done.

New York City has two big mandates in the near future.

1/1/20 – door lock monitoring

1/1/27 – Emergency brakes

If you have any questions or would like additional information feel free to contact me at CraigZ@colleyelevator.com or 630-766-7230 ext. 107.

Also check us out on Instagram @Colleyelevator see what we have been up to.

CEI/QEI continuing education – Colley Elevator

Any elevator professional in the State of Illinois requires us to have 10 hours of continuing education.  Elevator Inspectors and Elevator mechanics are required to have ongoing learning about their craft to maintain knowledge about new technology, elevator safety, new code requirements, changes in local code, changes in national code, etc.  For the last 7 years Colley Elevator has hosted Joe Donnelly, PE Elevator Education Program for elevator inspectors and elevator mechanics.

Each year we have done 2 evenings of training on A17.1, A17.2, A17.3, A117.1, NEC, Fire Fighters Service review and other topics depending on the year; State of Illinois code update, City of Chicago update, new technology and other items that come up.

While we have had a great instructor we also have a wonderful resource in the room with having 25-35 elevator professionals that have all different experiences and can add a lot of value to the topics and codes we are reviewing. The two days is a great chance to learn new items or refresh on items.

Over the years we have had inspectors, mechanics and architects/design team members from City of Chicago, Cook County, Elevator Inspection Services, CPS, Colley, Kone, Urban, Anderson, Mid America, Schindler, Suburban among others.  The experience and knowledge in the room is incredible.

*Not only do I get to catch up with old friends but we get to learn together and from one another. We are a huge proponent of continuing education at Colley so it this is an event that I look forward to every year.  At the end of the two days, after working all day and sitting through 5 hours of code we are all beat but it is always a grear experiece.

Next education event is 9/24/19 & 9/25/19 4:30pm to 9:30pm. 

Chicago Elevator Association is also having Joe talk at our next meeting on 9/5/19 at the Clubhouse in Oak Brook, IL. For more information

https://cea-online.org/

If you have any questions or would like additional information feel free to contact me at CraigZ@colleyelevator.com or 630-766-7230 ext. 107.

Also check us out on Instagram @Colleyelevator see what we have been up to.

Elevator World - Colley Elevator - 2019 Ellies

Elevator World’s version of the Emmy’s, The Ellies voting is in full swing.  Colley Elevator was nominated as Best Contractor of the North.  It is an honor to be nominated for such a prestigious award and would appreciate your assistance to bring home the “Best Contractor of the North” Award to Colley Elevator.  You can vote once each day, per device.  Vote early, vote often. 

Colley Elevator is a signatory elevator company that has been building, servicing, repairing and maintaining elevators for over 111 years.  Help us commemorate year 111 with a win at the Ellies!

Click here - https://www.elevatorworld.com/ellies/

Elevator world is the largest vertical transportation magazine in the World.  If you don’t know it, get to know it.  www.elevatorworld.com.

If you have any questions or would like additional information feel free to contact me at CraigZ@colleyelevator.com or 630-766-7230 ext. 107.

Also check us out on Instagram @Colleyelevator see what we have been up to.