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Slip & Fall Accidents

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Elevators and Escalators Require Regular Maintenance to Avoid Accidents

Elevators and escalators are a part of life in cities and towns across the United States. Whether you are in an office building or a shopping mall, the chances are that unless you plan to scale hundreds of steps, taking the elevator or the escalator is as common as walking down the street to find your car. However, elevators and escalators account for as many as 30 deaths every year. What Kansas City residents should know is that these deaths and the thousands of injuries caused each year by elevators and escalators are largely preventable.

Many large cities face the problem of inadequate elevator and escalator maintenance. When this happens, the results are often accidents and injuries that could have otherwise been avoided.

According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, more than 17,000 injuries are attributed to elevators and escalators. Among the most common injuries that occur around elevators are abrasions and bruises. More serious injuries include the loss of fingers, toes, hands and feet. Elevators account for 90 percent of deaths from these devices. Workers and passengers can fall into elevator shafts, plummeting to their deaths. Maintenance workers can also get caught up in moving parts. The CPSC estimates that of the nearly 10,000 accidents attributed to elevators each year, 85 percent are serious enough for emergency medical treatment to be sought.

Both elevators and escalators require safety tips to be observed by both the public, and the owners of the places that employ these devices. Consider the following:

Elevator Safety Tips

1. The floor of the car must be level with the landing floor before you getting on or off.
2. Enter and exit slowly.
3. Keep closing items and hands and feet away from the closing and opening doors.
4. Utilize the buttons on the control panel to keep the door open. Do not use the body to keep it open.
5. Wait for the next elevator to enter; do not rush through closing doors.
6. In case of an interrupted elevator, do not exit the elevator that is more than nine inches away from the landing floor.
7. Do not try to force elevator doors open.
8. In the event of an emergency, use the emergency button on the control panel. Be sure to follow instructions carefully. Move to the rear of the car.

Escalator Safety Tips

1. Always practice caution getting on or off of an escalator.
2. Look forward as you approach an escalator. Never get on without watching where you are going.
3. Move away from the escalator quickly.
4. Always watch children very carefully. Never leave children unattended on an escalator.
5. Use the handrails.
6. Be sure you have no loose clothing, untied shoelaces, or other loose items that could get caught in the moving parts.

Remember that in the event of an emergency such as a fire, escalators and elevators should never be used. You may become trapped if the electricity powering the machine is interrupted.

One of the best ways to prevent elevator accidents and injuries is for the owner of the device to regularly maintain and repair elevators and escalators. Elevators and escalators must be operated according to manufacturers' specifications and recommendations. Deviations from these guidelines have severe consequences. Injury and death can occur when elevators are not routinely inspected and maintained. Adequate signage and warnings are necessary as well. Clear instructions describing what should be done in the event of an emergency must be given. Warning signs must be clearly visible.

If you and a loved one have been injured on an elevator or an escalator, the Kansas City personal injury lawyers at Kansas City Accident Injury Attorneys offer a no cost initial consultation to help you find answers to your questions about your personal injury claim. Contact Kansas City Accident Injury Attorneys, call 888-348-2616 for more information. Download your free copy of 10 Essential Steps You Must Take To Protect Your Injury Claim.

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• Posted on 3/13/201251 year old Industrial Worker Killed in Electrocution Accident Caused by Fall
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Slip & Fall Accidents

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