The most comprehensive elevator safety knowledge

Elevator safety is an essential aspect of modern urban life, as elevators are one of the most widely used forms of vertical transportation. A comprehensive understanding of elevator safety includes knowledge of how elevators operate, the potential risks involved, and the measures in place to prevent accidents. Modern elevators are equipped with advanced safety systems such as door interlocks, emergency brakes, and overload protection, making them extremely reliable when properly maintained.

In addition, elevator safety depends not only on technology but also on effective management and responsible passenger behavior. Regular inspection, maintenance, and compliance with safety regulations ensure that elevators operate smoothly and securely. At the same time, passengers should follow basic safety guidelines-such as avoiding forced door opening, not overloading the car, and remaining calm in case of malfunction. By combining robust engineering, strict regulations, and proper usage, elevator systems can provide a high level of safety and reliability in everyday life.

Elevators are vertical modes of transportation. With the continuous development of urban areas, elevators have become a topic of increasing public interest. According to relevant data, riding an elevator is ten times safer than climbing stairs. Moreover, when compared to other modes of transport-such as cars and trains-elevators remain the safest option.

my country possesses some of the most stringent elevator safety requirements in the world. The national standard GB7588, *Safety Rules for the Construction and Installation of Elevators*, was adapted from the European standard EN81; furthermore, my country has elevated this standard to a mandatory regulation. It stipulates the certification procedures for elevator safety components-requiring them to undergo type testing by approved agencies-and mandates specific inspection protocols that elevators must undergo prior to being put into service and following any major modifications. The standard also mandates an annual periodic inspection.

Like any mode of transportation, elevators operate continuously, day in and day out. Such constant operation inevitably leads to the potential for component wear or damage. If an elevator is not regularly maintained, inspected, and adjusted, it may malfunction, thereby giving rise to certain risks. To minimize these risks, elevators have undergone continuous improvements over the years, resulting in increasingly comprehensive safety safeguards.

1. When passengers enter or exit an elevator, they must pass through the landing doors. At this juncture, potential hazards include falling into the elevator shaft or suffering shear injuries caused by "door-open travel" (the elevator car moving while its doors remain open).
2.  While riding inside the elevator car, passengers face potential injury risks stemming from abnormal acceleration or deceleration-specifically, the sensations of weightlessness, excessive weight, or sudden impact. These phenomena are commonly referred to as the elevator car "bottoming out" (crashing to the pit floor) or "overshooting" (striking the shaft ceiling).

Although the probability of these hazards occurring is low, their potential consequences are extremely severe; consequently, they constitute the most critical safety risks that must be rigorously eliminated.

1. User units, property management companies, maintenance providers, and inspection agencies shall each perform their respective duties, strictly comply with laws and regulations such as the Special Equipment Safety Law of the People's Republic of China and the Zhejiang Province Elevator Safety Management Measures, and carry out daily maintenance, servicing, and inspection in strict accordance with technical standards such as the Elevator Safety Operation Procedures and the Rules for Elevator Use Management and Maintenance.
2. Should an elevator malfunction occur, it is imperative not only to resolve the issue as quickly as possible but also to thoroughly investigate the root cause and eliminate any possibility of recurrence.
3. When riding an elevator, passengers should practice courteous and proper usage to safeguard their own safety.

Passengers must observe the following key safety guidelines to ensure their personal safety:

1.  When using an elevator, please check to see if it displays a valid safety inspection certificate. Elevators that have passed their inspection expiration date or are malfunctioning pose a safety hazard.
2. Do not blindly enter the elevator car without first verifying that it has properly stopped at your floor; doing so could result in an accident where a person falls down the elevator shaft.
3. While waiting for or riding the elevator, do not kick, pry, pull on, or lean against the landing doors. Such actions could lead to dangerous incidents, such as a passenger falling into the shaft or being caught and crushed by the moving elevator car.
4. If the elevator car is full to capacity, please wait patiently for the next available elevator.
5. If the elevator's overload alarm sounds, do not attempt to squeeze into the car or load additional items. Doing so may prevent the doors from closing-hindering operational efficiency-and, in severe cases, could cause the traction ropes to slip, the car to slide downward, or even result in crushing injuries to passengers.
6. Do not use your hands, feet, or objects to physically block the elevator doors from closing; if you need to keep the doors open, press and hold the "Open Door" button located inside the car. When entering or exiting the elevator, do not move too slowly or linger with one foot on the landing and the other in the car for an extended period; should the elevator car suddenly begin to move at that moment, it could easily result in a crushing accident.
7. While the elevator is in motion, try to stand away from the doors. Make use of the handrails inside the car to maintain your balance and ensure a steady stance.
8. If the elevator stops at a floor but the doors do not open automatically, press the "Open Door" button inside the car to open them. Do not attempt to force the doors open manually, as this could very likely lead to an accident involving a fall down the elevator shaft.
9. Do not engage in horseplay, roughhousing, jumping, or indiscriminately pressing buttons while inside a moving elevator. Such behavior can easily trigger the elevator's safety mechanisms to malfunction, potentially resulting in passengers becoming trapped inside the car or leading to accidents involving injury or fatality.
10.  If the elevator malfunctions and becomes stuck between floors, please do not panic. The safest course of action is to remain calm and composed. The elevator car and hoistway are well-ventilated and provide ample fresh air. The elevator is equipped with numerous safety features designed to protect passengers; you may use the alarm button or the telephone located inside the car to contact the property management or maintenance provider for assistance, and then wait patiently for rescue. Under no circumstances should you attempt to exit the elevator using any other hazardous methods.

Please remember: The elevator car is a safe space; attempting to "escape" the car through self-rescue efforts-no matter how ingenious-is often a dangerous choice. The elevator is, in fact, a very safe mode of transportation; provided that proper management is combined with responsible usage, it is fully capable of providing passengers with safe and reliable service.

As used here, "elevator entrapment" refers to the phenomenon in which a normally operating elevator suddenly comes to a halt-due to causes such as open door lock circuits or safety circuits, control system failures or malfunctions, power outages, or human error-thereby trapping passengers inside the elevator car.

 1. Elevator entrapment is a manifestation of an elevator malfunction; however, it also constitutes a form of self-protection.

When a specific component or the control system of an elevator develops an anomaly, it creates an impediment to the elevator's normal operation, thereby leading to entrapment. From this perspective, entrapment is a concrete manifestation of an elevator malfunction. At the same time, however, it signals to passengers that a fault has occurred, and simultaneously alerts maintenance personnel that immediate repairs are required; if the elevator were to continue operating, the fault could escalate or lead to an accident that endangers both human life and equipment safety, necessitating an immediate cessation of operation. Viewed in this light, entrapment serves as a protective state-much like a residual current device (RCD) in an electrical circuit, which automatically cuts off the power supply and de-energizes the equipment whenever a fault in the wiring or device poses a potential risk to human safety, thereby safeguarding human life.

 2. Elevator entrapment is a technical measure implemented by designers based on safety-centric design philosophies.

When an elevator malfunctions, it immediately ceases operation; this serves as a control mechanism designed to prevent the elevator from operating under abnormal conditions-a technical measure adopted by designers specifically to ensure human safety. Although, on the surface, being trapped may not appear to be a desirable outcome, its fundamental purpose is to maximize the protection of passengers' personal safety.

For passengers, elevator entrapment actually poses no inherent danger; provided that passengers remain calm, relax, and take appropriate measures while awaiting rescue, they will not come to any harm.

Based on past accident case studies, the direct causes of accidents typically stem from the following factors:

(1) The absence or malfunction of emergency assistance facilities within the elevator car.

(2) Delayed rescue efforts, resulting in passengers being trapped for an extended period; this leads to heightened anxiety and agitation, places a severe psychological strain on the passengers, and may consequently trigger pre-existing medical conditions.

(3) Improper rescue methods employed by rescuers-specifically, unauthorized operations performed by non-professionals-constitute a major cause of accidents.

(4) Improper self-rescue attempts by passengers: If trapped passengers lack a proper understanding of elevator entrapment situations-and, instead of remaining calm and patiently awaiting rescue, resort to inappropriate self-rescue methods-they may inadvertently trigger accidents resulting in personal injury.

1. If the elevator suddenly stops-due to a power outage, mechanical failure, or other reasons-while in operation, and you find yourself trapped inside the car, please remain calm and wait quietly. Do not attempt to take action on your own, as this could lead to accidents involving "shearing" (being caught between moving parts) or "falling into the shaft." Passengers must not attempt to force the car doors open manually or try to exit or enter the car. Instead, you should attempt to establish contact with the outside world and immediately report the situation to the property management department or the elevator maintenance provider.
2. When making an emergency call, provide the following information to those on the outside to facilitate rescue efforts: the number of people trapped inside the car and their physical condition, whether the emergency lighting inside the car is functioning, and the specific floor level at which the car has stopped.
3. Keep as far away as possible from the car doors-especially if they are already open-and strictly avoid leaning against the landing doors or the car doors. Do not smoke or engage in horseplay inside the car, and you must strictly follow the instructions given by rescue personnel.
4. In the Event of a Rapid Descent (Freefall):

(1) Regardless of how many floors are involved, quickly press the button for every single floor. When the emergency power supply activates, the elevator may immediately halt its descent. Under normal circumstances, the elevator shaft is equipped with safety devices designed to prevent freefall, and these safety mechanisms are highly reliable.

(2) Lift your heels (stand on your tiptoes), bend your knees, and press your entire back and head firmly against the interior wall of the elevator car, keeping your body aligned in a straight line. Use the elevator wall as a protective brace for your spine.

(3) If the elevator car is equipped with a handrail, grasp it firmly with one hand. This helps stabilize your position and prevents you from losing your balance and sustaining injuries due to sudden shifts in weight distribution.