NYC - Elevator runs amok, mangles ad exec, 41

[Linda7NJ]

Never stepping foot in an elevator again!

 

[Blondie in Spokane]

Father of Madison Avenue ad executive killed in freak elevator accident two years ago sues repair company


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...-suing-maintenance-company.html#ixzz2JSON7Hs3

 

[Blondie in Spokane]

from above link:

Two-way radios can jam the frequency of an elevator, and there was a history of problematic test results for this particular elevator in the past.

‘I would hate to think that any other family would have to go through what we did,’ he said.
Lerch Bates, the safety consultant hired to evaluate the incident, did a test of the faulty elevator car on January 9th- almost a month after the fact- and when a two-way radio was switched on near the elevator's control box, it jolted downwards.

Given the similar nature of the elevator's reaction, Mr Hill feels that is a possibility.
Lerch Bates also notes that at the time of the accident, the panic motion was not intact on the computer controlling the faulty elevator.

Mr Hill said that he is haunted by the death of Ms Hart daily, as he saw her dead body when he responded to the scene.


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...-suing-maintenance-company.html#ixzz2JSPO3iyO

 

[Penelope]

I don't worry about escalators eating my feet. They don't eat feet.

They eat arms.

So there I was, going up an escalator one year (Nordies? Macy's? One of them), wearing a denim jacket. It had buttons on it. I was carrying things that made my jacket bunch to the side. I did not realize, until I went to step off, that the escalator handrail had somehow snagged a button on my jacket.

Now, bear in mind, this was a weekend, and iirc, near the holidays. This was a busy, main escalator. And there I was, stuck to the escalator, people behind me. Thinking as fast as I've ever thought, I threw my bundles off the escalator, stripped out of my jacket (and my shirt..ahem...I wasn't sure what was caught, so I grabbed my shirt hem and yanked).

The escalator didn't stop. I don't know why, as a big wad of fabric was there, but it didn't stop. Someone at the side of the escalator managed to reach the emergency stop button, but it took a moment or three for it to actually stop moving.

In the meanwhile, there I stood, in my bra, watching people try to avoid me, the wad of material, and various bits of bundles I had tossed. Once it finally stopped, I kinda looked around, and saw a few emergency people heading our way.

Me and three others got checked out, my jacket was replaced, and I got all the bundles to take home for free. I believe they did this for other people, too. And one of the clerks came running over with a brand new sweater for me to wear, as well...considering I was showing what God put on my chest to all and sundrie.

To the store's credit, they immediately had mainenance folks out and trying to figure out what had happened...and had the escalator blocked off. They also blocked off all the other escalators, too, and made sure they were in working order.

I remember being confused as to why I couldn't get off the elevator, and then, quickly realizing what was going on, taking action. Thankfully, I was able to escape unscathed. But I don't like escalators at all any more...and will avoid them if possible.

I don't believe that this poor woman had any understanding as to what happened, and I'm very sure there was no suffering. If it happened as fast as I think it did, there wasn't even a chance for her to feel pain...

Godspeed to her, and to her family. And big prayers for those who witnessed this...and who were injured as well. How utterly, horrifically, traumatic and devastating...for everyone involved.

Best-
Herding Cats

Hi Herding Cats!

Just wanted to add that I have had actual experience with escalators that eat feet! When I was a little girl, I got my rubber rain boot stuck in the treads of an escalator as I went to step off of it. Thankfully, my mother was there and pulled me off, but it ripped a hole in the toe area of my rubber boot.

Years later, while working in a department store in Atlanta, a co-worker/ friend got her sneaker similarly stuck in an escalator tread. It almost mangled her toes, but she was able to rip herself free. Once again, she was left with a sneaker with the whole front toe area ripped off!

People need to be careful when stepping off escalators and need to watch small children. One must not drag one's feet or run the risk of getting a shoe, sandal or runner caught in the tread.

Supposedly, each escalator has an emergency shut-off switch, but I am not sure if the switch is in a fixed location on every escalator or well marked (probably not). So step carefully, my Websleuths friends!