Former IUEC Local 1 member and current elevator company owner Louis James argues that nothing comes before safety – both the safety of workers and the elevator-riding public. Lou’s company, Evolution Elevator & Escalator Corp, prioritizes safety and on-the-job training. In the following video, he talks about workers going home to their families at the end of the day – and how, ultimately, everything starts and ends with safety and training.
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IUEC General President Frank Christensen recently released a statement in response to a recall announcement coming from three residential elevator companies. In his statement, the union leader warns that children pinned between interior and exterior elevator doors have been hurt and even lost their lives when the elevator car moves. He argues that the door gap issue has been a problem for too long and that this latest recall is a significant step to help protect innocent children.
Read the full statement below.
“Residential elevators, when not properly installed, inspected, and modified, are not safe, especially for children who have been hurt and even killed after becoming trapped between residential elevators’ interior car and exterior hall doors. The gap between these two doors – ultimately, a very preventable issue – turns in-home elevators into death traps.
Our union commends the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, groups like Kids in Danger, and other industry stakeholders, for spearheading the effort that led three companies to recall tens of thousands of in-home elevators. This recall is a significant first step and will help protect innocent children.
Sadly, the door gap has been a danger for far too long. What’s more, in many states, safety standards associated with commercial elevators do not apply to residential lifts. In-home units may not even be registered – meaning it’s unclear how many residential elevators actually exist and, more importantly, the last time the elevators were inspected.
As long as this hazard exists, our union will do everything in its power to assist in identifying a sustainable, affordable solution to this problem, which we strongly believe should include a combination of regular inspections, proper registration policies, and the incorporation of space guards where needed.”
Ever seen a working 1860 Horizontal roped public water hydraulic elevator? Take a look at this beautifully designed and precisely to scale working model from the Elevator Museum
For another episode about the Elevator Museum, please check out our previous post here
This Sunday, January 30, at 8pm EST, Schindler Technicians Roger Weber and Scott Pumper will be spotlighted on Discovery’s Hit Series ‘Dirty Jobs’ with Host Mike Rowe. Rowe, a champion of essential workers, is rolling up his sleeves to celebrate hardworking men and women who have made civilized life possible. Roger and Scott guide Mike Rowe through the cleaning and maintaining of the University of Minnesota’s Gopher Stadium escalators.
You can catch the episode on Discovery Channel or by streaming on discovery+. You can also join the conversation on social media by using #DirtyJobs.
Photo Credit: Courtesy Discovery
In a letter to Airbnb, Vrbo, and other vacation rental companies, CPSC urged each party to issue warnings and take other steps to address safety issues associated with some residential elevators.
We believe that if stakeholders work together to come up with a smart, collaborative solution, it could help ensure residential elevators are safe and innocent lives are protected.
For more details, check out this article on The Hill
So, what exactly does an elevator modernization project look like in the Willis Tower – a building with 110 elevators?
Just like your car, elevators only last so long. Check out this video – featuring Willis Tower Director of Operations and Construction Barbara Hickey, Otis Elevator Project Supervisor Patrick Eagan, and International Union of Elevator Constructors Local 2 Business Agent Mike Mintle – to learn more about this massive undertaking.
With more than 8 decades of combined experience in the elevator industry, industry safety leaders Mike Langer and Randy Storr share a powerful safety message regarding the importance of starting the new year off right by working smarter and safer.
Check out New York YIMBY article for incredible photos of Skyline Tower – the tallest skyscraper in Long Island City and all of Queens. In the elevator trade, it’s clear that the sky is truly the limit!
Skyline Tower: Photo by Michael Young
Meet Steve Comley, the curator of the Elevator Museum, and his father James, Owner of Embree Elevator Company. These elevator mechanics have over 110 years of experience combined and it shows in the clip below.
Ever wonder what it takes to modernize the elevators in an iconic building like Chicago’s Willis Tower? As far as the workforce goes, a job of this scale certainly requires the best and the brightest. Shoutout to the International Union of Elevator Constructors Local 2 brothers and sisters currently working on one of the largest elevator modernization projects in North America: