Elevator Radio Show Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

I’d have to say that the only good thing to have come out of the Covid-19 and the shut downs is that I believe, based on the lack of internet articles, the number of elevator and escalator accidents has decreased.  That is up until this week.  There were two worker/construction related which requires a reality check about the dangers involved with the work we do each day.  We cannot ever lose sight of this!

It’s been a tough week in and around the City of Chicago.  Today’s show has nothing to do with elevators or escalators. My heart hurts and is angry for many reasons.  Many of which don’t really make sense to me.  I do my best to convey these on the program today but realize I’ll most likely offend some people or whatever I try to say might easily be taken out of context. I’m not looking for a fight, I’m simply looking for the looting and destruction to end.  To my friends, family who are first responders, I support you. I am by your side, you are not alone. Be safe out there and look out for your loved ones.

The equipment has been dusted off, powered back on and I’m back.  Today’s show, after taking eleven months off, comes full circle with the feeling and inspiration I felt when I recorded the first Elevator Radio Show podcast back in December 2005.  I have so many of you to thank for this.  I’ll be sharing the perspective from a company that manufactures elevator equipment on the steps we’ve taken along with just my thoughts on this entire pandemic. The goal here is to provide all of you, a place to come each week as we all do our best to get through this cluster. I care deeply for our industry, all who work in it and the safety of people who touch it every day. This virus is going to shift the way human beings interact forever as well as our industry.  Please be careful as you venture out into the world and practice the steps outlined by the CDC to keep yourself healthy. Wash hands as often as you can with soap and water for 20 mins. Don’t touch any of your body openings with your hands.  The virus must enter your body somewhere for you to become sick, don’t roll out the red carpet for it.

Thought for today’s show: Anger is the last bastion of the powerless.

News/Article Links:

NEII – Elevators and the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Resources

CECA – Basecamp Sharing Site

Non members contact them to become a member

DOL – Guidance for Preparing Workplaces

DOL – Families First

Be Safe Online and Offline

Flu Season Estimates

Center for Disease Control Links

CDC – How to Protect Yourself from Coronavirus (COVID-19)

CDC – What to do if you are sick

CDC – Daily Life and Coping

CDC – People who need to take extra precautions

Stimulus Aid Package

NPR – What’s inside the Coronavirus Aid Package

SBA – Apply for Economic Injury Disaster Loan

This is the first show I’ve done where there were more than one “I-Team” type investigative report on expired elevator certificates. In the years I’ve been creating this podcast, never have any of them truly attempted to address or get to the bottom of the reason why. My question to you I-Team, reporter….look deeper into the numbers.  Find out the budget for the elevator inspection department, the number of inspectors the department has and the number of elevators that require inspections annually.  Go a step further and ask how long an inspection should take on average and plug those numbers into a spreadsheet.  After you’ve done this ask whether or not the funding allocated, the number of inspectors employed and the number of elevators, escalators, moving walkways and dumbwaiters that require inspections annually can be done based on the time and number of inspectors there are to do it. Do the numbers confirm that there’s adequate funding and employed inspectors to complete the number of inspections that are required each year?

Show Notes:

Person falls down elevator shaft in NY

More than 1,600 elevators in Philly have expired certs.

Another I-Team investigative report: Boston

This time it’s Los Angeles

Repairmen burned in Palo Alto shaft fire

TKE abandons plan to split in two

Do broken elevators violate ADA

Brake failure blamed in elevator accident

Meet one of Chicago’s last elevator operators

Stranded student visitors are helped at Kennedy Center

Full report released in Hancock building stall

City Hall’s elevator on its last trip

Boy sitting on escalator loses finger, parents demand mall pay medical costs

Today’s program has a little bit of everything. What surprised me was the number of accidents reported as they related to the general riding public and/or workers that use elevators for work.  Many of which had me simply scratching my head wondering the true cause for each of them.  In addition, I’ll cover the upcoming calendar of events and share my hopes that Spring will soon be here.

Show Notes:

DC firefighters hoist students out of elevator at Kennedy Center

Elevators undergo $1M in renovations

TKE to upgrade two elevators at Cobb County gov building

Supreme Court hears case of woman fined, arrested for not holding escalator rail

ESD signage in the UK

BC housing knew about elevator issues

Man in mobility scooter falls three floors in Toronto

Veterans get elevator for VFW

Four injured after man falls over on escalator

Snake removed from elevator ceiling

Woman injured in elevator accident

Elevator access solution released

Broke escalator adds to Southern Cross chaos

Man on cargo cart dies in elevator accident

Readers turn thumbs-down on plan for O’Hare’s Global Terminal

IAEC 2019 Reno Forum Fast Approaching

CEA Night at the Races

Historical commission rejects plan to add elevator

Elevator U Registration Open

Upcoming Educational Workshops/Classes

This is one of those shows where one unexpected article link, had me thinking about recalls and elevators and escalators as they related to the CPSC.  After reading and sharing one listed below, I got to thinking about the question of whether there were other recalls out there as they related that I hadn’t seen and decided to do some quick digging.  What I found was a little concerning.  I need to fully disclose my day job involves many things but manufacturing and selling door interlocks and mechanical door switches for freight/passenger elevators.  We are not, however a player in the residential elevator market. Also, I’m not an expert when it comes to residential elevators nor anything for tha matter so take what I say with a grain of salt.  With all of this out of the way I ask one simple question on the show today which is a good one.

Show Notes:

Cambridge Elevating recalls home elevators due to fall hazard

Other recalls affecting “elevator” equipment

Plastic Residential Door Latches?

Residential Elevator Safety Meeting Planned

3-month elevator battle at plaza prompts action by tenants

Why everyone should stand still on an escalator

One elevator has some feeling like prisoners

Work safe out there

Woman stuck in elevator for 21 hours : China

U of Michigan to upgrade historic Detroit Observatory

Next CEA Meeting: Tomorrow

Elevator U Registration Open

Upcoming Educational Workshops/Classes

I was hoping it would be a show without covering any accidents, but this week is not the week to be.  In addition, you can ask your coworkers if they know what a “RIOT” button does in an elevator.  In Sacrament someone thought it would be a good idea to add them to some of their governmental elevators.  It’s also our Prize Pack Giveaway show which is my favorite of the month.  Special thanks to Colley Elevator and Codedataplate.com for providing $25 gift cards for it.  Work safe out there.

Prize Pack Giveaway – Thanks To the Following Prize Pack Giveaway Donors!

C.J. Anderson & Company, Colley Elevator Company, Codedataplate.com,  The National Association of Elevator Safety Authorities, The Elevator Escalator Safety Foundation, Truxes, EMS Group, Elevator Bob’s Elevator Pictures, Minnesota Elevator, ElevatorU.org, Elevator World Magazine, NAEC, Elevator Cab Renovations, Parts Specialists Inc, Elevatormanstories.com, Elevator Riders Riding Club, Peelle, The pQEI Inspection App & Maxton Manufacturing

Show Notes:

Construction worker injured after falling down elevator shaft

Family wants change at airport

Old woman nears death in lift accident – China

Death of hotel worker in 2016 leads to $200k in fines

Transit crews work to improve elevator/escalator service MTA

The harsh reality when elevators are broken

Will Big Bang Theory finally fix its longest running problem?

RIOT Buttons installed in elevator?

Judy Marks Leads Otis Elevator on a Tech-Fueled Quest for Growth

Evil of all evil – How is bail set for someone like this?

IAEC Conference Fast Approaching

We’ve got a good show for you today. There are at least three articles that should be the talk around the office cooler, weekly safety toolbox talks or any other opportunity you have to chat with your coworkers about. In the end each all come down to safety.  And on a non-elevator related note it’s the first day of Spring today for those of us in the Northern Hemisphere. Let’s hope Mother Nature is done sending snow and cold our way.

I was truly moved at the number of you who emailed me the news regarding the fatality in ND.  While an investigation it still pending initial reports indicate he was electrocuted while servicing an escalator.  Every time I read one of these articles my heart sinks and I feel like my words fall on deaf ears.  Your emails, sharing the news of this tragedy, helped me realize that safety is a priority to so many of you which I find a small amount of comfort in. Keep Josh Bosch, his family especially his wife and two daughters in your thoughts and prayers.

There’s a wide variety of article links shared on today's show. The first one pounds home the concern for safety in the job site as it relates not to construction or maintenance of buildings but in other services like demolition and wrecking.  It’s a terrible accident and reminder of just how fragile life is and how it can change in an instant.