Safety Tips from an Industry Professional
Guest article written by Matthew Pike
Several years ago, while flipping through the channels, I stopped on an extreme weight loss TV program. In that particular episode, the competition for the day was to have the contestants walk up and down the moving escalator; the contestant that could physically last the longest was deemed the winner. The TV cameras did not do an excellent job of covering the many dangers of this type of misuse. What needed to be shown to the audience were the many safety people manning the stop switches, monitoring the contestant's health, and assisting when needed. TV and social media content and trends displaying incorrect usage can give riders an unrealistic perception that these machines will not cause harm if the rider isn't following precautions.
The more likely scenario is this: A mother has just dropped her 13-year-old son at the mall while she is attending a job interview. It is the middle of the week and there are very few people using the escalator, so he decides that running up the down escalator will provide the entertainment of the day. On the first pass he succeeds, so it is back to the bottom to try again, however, his next attempt provides much more excitement as he misses a step around the halfway point. Without support under his foot, his knee strikes the leading edge of the serrated escalator step, cutting through his jeans and deeply into the flesh. The searing pain connects him with the reality that escalators are not a place to play. The pain intensifies as he tries to regain his balance; while reaching for his knee with both hands, he falls to his back and lands headfirst traveling down the escalator. Reality is sinking in and all of the warnings are coming true. He's terrified that his hooded-down jacket will get caught in the combs at the walk-on plate...
Let's take a moment to go over the safe use of escalators.
- Check your shoelaces. Shoelaces should be tied, and any loose clothing that could be caught by the steps should be secured.
- Be aware of your surroundings. Look around: are there children playing in the area? Is there a piece of luggage going to fall down the escalator?
- Hold the handrail. Hold on before you step, which will help you maintain your balance.
- Step over the comb segments onto the center of the step. Mind the edges of the step, ensuring you maintain clearance to the adjacent steps and the skirt along the side. This is usually marked by yellow strips along the edges of the step; if it is yellow, stay clear.
- Stand on the step. Walking on an escalator can lead to tripping.
- Upon reaching the opposite end, step over the comb segments and walk away promptly so the people behind you can exit safely.
Now back to the story...
Struggling to get up from his upside down position with all his weight above his head, seemed like an impossible situation. Fighting with gravity, shortness of breath from the first pass, his fluffy down jacket, and the pain and blood gushing from his knee, he struggled as the escalator kept moving ever closer to the bottom landing. Thanks to God and the skills of the service mechanic, this young man was saved by sliding over the combs onto the walk-on plate.
The boy in this story knew all these rules. I know he knew the escalator rules, because, as an elevator and escalator professional, I told my son of the dangers. Yet, in all his teenage wisdom, he knew better than his parents; please learn from my son's mistake.
As a fellow industry professional, I challenge you to tell everyone you know about the rules for riding safely on an escalator.
Thank you,
Matthew Pike, The University of Texas at Austin, Elevator Manager
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