February 2007

UCOP Safety Meeting

 Be Smart About Wellness

Be Smart about your Personal Health by

taking you medical plan’s Health Risk
Assessment
 15-20 minute online questionnaire
 Provides a personalized report on your
current health status
 Take recommended action and get involved in
UCOP wellness programs and services
 Watch for brown bag tutorials at UCOP
Elevator Safety
Statistical Information on Elevators
In the United States*
 Estimated 600,000 Elevators
 Over 120 Billion Elevator Riders Each Year
 Over 575 Million Riders take an Elevator or
Escalator in the U.S. daily.
*Source: Elevator World, Inc. (June 1996)
UC Elevator Incidents
 20 Reported Claims From 1995
 Loss of Over $800,000 for Claims
 Reduced Quality of Life
 Elevator Fatalities & Injuries
Elevator & Escalator
Passenger Fatalities
(1997 – 2003)*
 *Source – Center to Protect
Workers Rights, National Institute
for Occupational Safety & Health
(NIOSH)/Centers for Disease
Control (CDC)

U.S. Consumer
Product & Safety
Commission
 Estimate 11,000
Elevator-Related
Injuries per Year
 How Do Elevators Work
Low Rise Buildings – Hydraulic
 Fluid-Driven Piston
 http://science.howstuffworks.com/elevator1.htm

Mid-to High Rise Buildings - Cable

 Traction Steel Ropes: 4 to 8 Cables
 http://science.howstuffworks.com/elevator3.htm

Elevator Safety Systems

 Cable Elevators – Braking System if Car
Moves Too Fast & Governor to Catch Cable
 Electromagnetic Brakes
 Elevator Capacity
1111 Franklin Street – 3500 lbs (23 People)
Kaiser Building – 3000 lbs (20 People)
415 20th Street – 5000 lbs (31 People)
 Elevator Doors
Two Doors
 Door on Each Floor
 Elevator Door (Door on the Car)
Computer Operates Door
 Gear on Elevator Door to Open Floor Door
Doors Have Sensors Not to Close If
Someone is Between Doors
 Always a Possibility for Sensors to
Malfunction
 Elevator Safety Rules
Watch Your Step Entering & Exiting – Look
Down
 Elevator May Not Be Level to the Floor
 Watch the Gap (Especially High Heels)
Leave Closing Doors Alone
 Door Sensors Are Not Always Reliable
 Fatality in 2003 – Person Stuck in Door
Never Enter an Elevator with A Suspicious
Looking Person Inside
 Elevator Safety Rules
Never Try to Leave a Stalled Car
 Ring the Alarm Button and Wait
 Serious Injuries & Fatalities Have
Occurred from Passengers Attempting to
Exit Stalled Elevator Car
 Elevator Safety Trips
Approaching Elevators
Stand Aside for Exiting Passengers
If Elevator is Full – Wait for Next Car
Don’t Try to Stop Closing Doors – Wait
for the Next Elevator
Fire or Other Situation(s) That Could
Lead to Disruption of Electrical Service
– Take the Stairs
Entering and Exiting Elevators
Once on Board, Press Floor Button &
Move to Rear to Make Room for
Others
Stand Clear of Doors, Keep Clothes &
Carry-ons Away From the Doors
Push “DOOR OPEN” to Hold Doors
Open
Passengers Nearest Doors Should
Move First
 When Riding Elevators
Stand Next to Elevator Walls
Hold Hand Rails if Available
Pay Attention to Floor Indicators & Be
Prepared to Exit at Your Destination
If Doors Do Not Open When Elevator Stops:
 First Push “DOOR OPEN” Button
 If Door Still Does Not Open, Ring Alarm or Use
the Intercom or Phone
 Wait Until Qualified Person Can Assist You
 Do Not Attempt to Pry the Doors Open
 Elevator Safety Reminder
Elevators are mechanical devices – The
majority of the elevator-related injuries and
fatalities have occurred when passengers
attempt to override the mechanical and
safety devices of the elevator.
UCLA Telescope Tower Elevator