All consulted escalator consultants agree that most escalator accidents are preventable if due care is observed by everyone using these very helpful mechanized stairs. Before we go on, we must first of all start by understanding what escalators really are. Basically, they are a convenient way of navigating premises within a large building block, for instance malls, federal buildings, airports, supermarkets, train stations and many others.
Generally speaking escalators and walkways are typically considered as common carriers, meaning that escalators are based on the same standards as other public transportation facilities, such as buses, cars, taxis and others. Under the law, escalator owners, or their maintenance service people, for example the escalator consultants, are required to employ the utmost care and thoroughness in keeping the passengers safe from the moment they step onto their escalator until the moment they exit from them.
Escalator features such as the emergency stop button that offer an automatic stop when pressed, must be placed in a visible location where they are easily reachable. Others, such as, the deflector brush must always be operational. A deflector brush is a continuous brush at the side of the walkway that deflects foreign objects away from the gap between the skirt boards and the walkway. According to the escalator consultants, the safety instructions must be clearly posted near the escalator’s entrance landing platform.
