Elevator Safety

Push buttons gently but firmly with your finger. Do not kick, pound, or use any type of device to press the button. These actions can often break the button and are misuse of the equipment. The face of the button may be metal, but the internal components may not be metal and are often more fragile.

Do not jump up and down or wrestle in the elevator. These actions can engage the safety device and then you’ll be stuck in the elevator. An elevator cannot distinguish between a malfunctioning component and an exuberant passenger. It will shut itself down rather than continue to operate in a potentially unsafe condition.

Do not pull the door shut. If the doors on the elevator take longer than you think they should, try pushing the door close button. Elevator doors are controlled by an automatic timer that is set with both the elderly and people with special needs in mind; to the able bodied a few seconds may feel like a few minutes, but that is not the case for everyone.

Do not pull the doors open. If you believe you are stuck, try the door open button, the button for the floor that you were going to, or the floor at which you entered the elevator. If that doesn’t work, pick up the phone and call for help. Attempting to open the doors on your own is extremely dangerous; you or somebody in the elevator with you could be seriously injured or even killed.

Before entering or exiting an elevator look at the floor and check that the elevator is level in relation to the floor. A slight difference in the heights could cause you to stumble if you don’t notice it. Alert the building personnel to any abnormal variations in the height.

Do not use the elevator if there is a fire in the building. Fire damage could easily cause the elevator, or the power to the elevator to malfunction, and then you’ll be stuck in the elevator with a fire and smoke in the building.

For Building Personnel

If there is a fire in your building:

Do not use the elevator or allow anyone to use it. Everyone must use the stairs.
Keep everybody calm.
Ask able-bodied persons to assist any special needs or elderly tenants with the stairs, and carefully carry them if needed.
If your elevators are equipped with Fire Service, activate it for emergency personnel and have the emergency elevator keys ready for them for when they arrive. Keep the area in front of the elevators clear for emergency personnel.
Alert your elevator company immediately after the all clear to make sure that there has been no damage done to the elevator.

See our Maintenance page for tips on avoiding costly service calls.