15/FEB/2016
You would have used one today. In fact is the US 90 billion riders use it annually – the escalator.
Early February this year a poor four year old lost half a foot due to a traumatizing incident on the escalator. When we combed the media report online we discovered at least nine (9) incidents of children injured on escalators in Malaysia – mostly were reported on blogs. We also found seven (7) incidents in Singapore from 2006 – 2016 with five (5) involving children.
Are escalators unsafe to children?
The United States Consumer Product Safety Commission of USCPSC reported back in 2007 there were about 11,000 escalator related injuries. Upon investigation the US CPSC is able to say that most injuries are due to fall, ten (10) percent occur when hands, feet or shoes are trapped in escalators. Soft shoes particularly clogs are most likely to get stuck similarly with ladies shoes.
When we researched online about escalator safety incidents we were nearly traumatized by the kinds of injuries children sustain and that kept us from riding the escalator for a while. But it also sensitized us about the dangers of using escalators – ONLY if we do not mind the safety measures.
As children (usually) under the age of seven are most prone to accidents on escalators, please pay extra attention to their safety when using the escalators. It’s like riding a car or motorcycle or using the bus and crossing the road. They need to be protected when using any mechanical installation.
Always know where the emergency stop button is. The facility’s maintenance team must ensure that the emergency stop button is always in working condition – of course. Adults and children alike must ensure that shoes are tied before getting on an escalator and avoid wearing clogs or soft shoes. Parents need to ensure that children are constantly reminded to use the escalator safely especially placing their foot in the centre and alighting promptly. If you are unsure of where you are do not stop after alighting and wonder. There maybe people behind you who need to alight – promptly and not able to do so with you blocking their way. Building management should not allow use of strollers and prams on escalators. People with strollers or prams and carts – please use the elevators / lift.
However, with many cases of injuries to children, building and mall owners, escalator manufacturers and installers and the relevant government agencies should perpetually educate the general public about safe use of elevators. Advertising space near escalators should probably be reserved for safe escalator use awareness, promotion and education.
Agencies such as the Department of Occupational Safety and Health should make it mandatory for building and escalator brand owners to report incidents – if DOSH has not done that already.
Building owners and brand owners who fail to report incidents should be penalized. DOSH and the relevant emergency response agency should investigate the cause and detailed report made available to organisations working on public safety. Investigations into the incidents will shed light and may result in one or more improvements in terms of design, maintenance, review of safety standards and compliance with these standards. Let’s elevate safety standards for the sake of our children.
Prof Datuk Dr. Marimuthu Nadason
President
Malaysian Association of Standards Users