“I’m a Priority to My Company and My Union,” says TK Elevator Mechanic and IUEC Local 2 Member

The sound of a passing subway car on a set of elevated tracks and the distinct smell of Chicago-style pizza were in the air when ElevatorInfo arrived outside of the brand new, glass-walled structure where @IUEC Local 2 member and @TKElevator mechanic Mike Durkin oversees a variety of conveyance equipment that includes 31 elevators, eight car banks, and two escalators.

We met up with Mike in Chicago to speak with him about his strategies for keeping elevator constructors safe on the job. When we entered the lobby, it was clear right away that this was a place where a lot of activity happens. From customers going in and out of the bakery in the lobby to business clients and building tenants traveling up and down the two big escalators at the front entrance, the building Mike is responsible for was bustling with activity all day long.

One of the first things we noticed was how clean the machine rooms we visited were. The work areas were spotless, with no visible debris, dust, or dirt; no tools out of place, just pristine rooms housing the millions of dollars’ worth of equipment that Mike and the TK team used their expertise to keep running smoothly. “We like to keep our machine rooms clean because a clean workspace is a safe workspace,” he said.

This is especially important in a building with as much activity as his. In a business-centered environment, professionalism and keeping passengers safe is an absolute must. “If the people in this building never think about getting stuck in an elevator, never worry about getting their hand pinched on a handrail or their shoe caught in a comb plate, that means I did my job well,” Mike remarked.

Because he is a graduate of the International Union of Elevator Constructors’ National Elevator Industry Educational Program (NEIEP), Mike received the most comprehensive and safety-focused training the industry has to offer. Beginning during the probationary apprenticeship period, NEIEP apprentices are required to complete courses and certifications that will keep them safe through the duration of their careers including OSHA 10, SAIA Competent Person Training for Framed and Suspended Scaffolds, American Heart Association Heartsaver® First Aid CPR AED, in addition to the trade-specific safety training embedded in the general apprenticeship curriculum. As a mechanic, Mike’s education benefits give him the opportunity to enroll in additional safety training through NEIEP such as Arc Flash Safety and Awareness, Confined Space Awareness, and OSHA 30 – all with no out-of-pocket expense.

Working on jobsites that pose as many risks as those in the construction and conveyance world, it is vital for mechanics and apprentices to have the ability to accurately assess potential dangers and know what kind of safety precautions to put in place to mitigate those hazards.
Mike spoke about the importance of having regular toolbox talks each week in addition to the monthly 2-hour continuing education safety standdown his company sponsors. “Every day when I come to the job, I know that I am going to be safe and I know that I’ll be effectively able to manage (to maintain) this building because of the training I received years ago through NEIEP and what I continue to receive on a weekly and monthly basis through TK Elevator,” he said.

Watch the video to learn more about how Mike puts his training into practice to keep himself, his coworkers, and riding public safe.

View NEIEP’s complete course catalog with descriptions of the industry’s top-quality safety and technical training at https://www.neiep.org/Catalog/

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Safety First and Foremost: A Conversation with IUEC Local 25 President & Schindler Mechanic Hector Saldana

When we first met Hector Saldana, president of IUEC Local 25 and Mechanic-in-Charge (MIC) for Schindler Elevator Company at a new construction site just outside of Denver, he’d just geared up with a full set of personal protective equipment (PPE). He immediately asked us to do the same, as we were about to enter an active construction area. “I’ve been in this trade for approximately 17 years. Safety first and foremost for me,” he said.

From just outside the hoistway, he spoke with us about how important it is to have clear, direct communication with all of the mechanics and apprentices on his jobsite. He described weekly toolbox talks with a focus on being proactive as being at the forefront of his strategy. “What I always try to tell them, especially Monday mornings, is, ‘if you see something, say something.’ Don’t leave it for somebody else, especially if it’s a safety concern.”

IUEC Local 25 Denver currently has close to 600 members. Their territory covers all of Colorado, as well as some shared jurisdiction in Wyoming and Nebraska. Members also gather at the Local 25 headquarters in Sheridan, Colorado, to discuss ways to continue to work safely and avoid potential hazards on the job. “We all chit-chat – even though we might not all work for the same company, we work on the same equipment,” Hector said. It’s this shared, open, regular communication that helps keep everyone safe.

Aside from looking out for elevator constructors on the jobsite, Hector was quick to remind us about another responsibility that falls on all people working in the trade – keeping the riding public safe and confident when it comes to using elevators, escalators, moving walks, and other conveyance equipment. “You want the public to come up, just push a button get in, push the other button and get out safely. In and out. It is something we don’t want them ever to even think about.”

Hector emphasized that his most important job as an MIC and leader in his Local is to get his IUEC brothers and sisters home safe at the end of each day. “It doesn’t matter how fast they’re pushing us. They’re always going to push us, but I have to get those elevator constructors back home.”

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Elevator Constructors Develop Innovative Pit Ladder Safety Technology

Several years ago, members of the IUEC Safety Committee and staff from the Elevator Industry Work Preservation Fund were reviewing on-the-job accidents that had led to fatalities for elevator constructors. A scenario that came up several times was one in which an elevator constructor was struck by a descending car while standing on a pit ladder. In a five-year period, four elevator constructors had been killed and numerous others had been injured in this way.

Committee member Scott Russell, an Elevator Industry Work Preservation Fund National Coordinator and IUEC Local 32 member from Atlanta, Georgia, realized he had an opportunity to make a difference by designing a safer pit ladder. If the pit ladder was equipped with an electrical protective device (EPD) that would remove power from the drive machine and brake – preventing the elevator from moving while someone was on the ladder – accidents like this could be avoided. Having sensors on the pit ladder would make it possible for this to happen automatically, without the need for an elevator constructor to remember to set switches manually.

Four prototypes for a safety pit ladder were designed. The first was equipped with an EPD on the access door that would automatically shut the power down as soon as the door was opened. The second was a system of pressure pads that would signal an EPD to interrupt power if weight were detected on any of the ladder’s rungs. The third used an EPD that would be activated by any vertical movement of the ladder. The fourth incorporated light-sensing technology for object detection means (e.g., photo eye, light ray, light curtain, etc.) that would shut power down if a photosensor was tripped.

Once the prototypes had been finished and an effective ladder design had been finalized, Scott transferred the rights to develop the technology to the team at the Elevator Industry Work Preservation Fund for five dollars to ensure it could be moved to production as quickly and easily as possible. He then worked with ASME code committees to develop a requirement for using this technology in elevator installations. The most recent update for the ASME A17.1-2022/CSA B44:22 Safety Code for Elevators and Escalators now requires sensors to be used on newly-installed pit ladders.

At the end of the day, safety must always be the top priority. Working in the elevator industry will always involve some risk, so we must do everything in our power to work safe every day. The innovative new technology of the Safety Pit Ladder will help elevator constructors across the country do just that.

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Chicago Elevator Constructors Celebrate 125 Years & Look Forward to 125 More

International Union of Elevator Constructors (IUEC) Local 2 recently hosted its anniversary gala at the Westin Chicago Northwest. Elevator constructors, company representatives from Otis, TK Elevator, and Cabworks Custom Elevators, distinguished retirees, and others gathered to celebrate 125 remarkable years.

Chicago elevator constructors are the individuals who helped shape – and today, maintain – one of the world’s most extraordinary skylines. The Chicago Charter of the International Union of Elevator Constructors since March 12, 1897, today Local 2 proudly represents more than 1,300 members.

IUEC Local 2’s members are some of the most respected men and women in the industry. They are well known for working together to fight for the working people of Illinois. What’s more, they understand the importance of serving one’s community – and demonstrate their commitment to making the world a better place by hosting an annual golf outing to fund diabetes research and supporting Chicago-based nonprofit Toy Box Connection.

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Elevator Union Showcases World-Class Educational Program in Austin

NEIEP Austin

The International Union of Elevator Constructors (IUEC) recently joined the National Elevator Industry Educational Program (NEIEP) and IUEC Local 133 in Austin, Texas to highlight the central role the union’s education and training program plays in creating pathways to fulfilling careers in the elevator industry.

“In the elevator trade, there is no training in the same league as the National Elevator Industry Educational Program,” said Texas AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Leonard Aguilar. “Men and women enrolled in NEIEP have access to the industry’s premier apprenticeship program – which helps them become the safest, most highly-skilled apprentices and elevator constructors in vertical transportation.”

Attendees ranged from IUEC members and lawmakers – including members of the Austin City Council – to representatives from the Texas Building Trades Council and the Texas AFL-CIO. Companies like TK Elevator, Otis, and Schindler, as well as three independent companies, were also in attendance.

Texas House Member Gina Hinojosa (District 49) and newly elected U.S. House Representative Greg Casar (District 35) took time out of their hectic schedules to visit the fair, tour each station, and talk with instructors about hands-on training and education opportunities in the organized elevator trade.

“Union apprenticeship programs create meaningful opportunities for working people throughout the Lonestar State,” said Representative Hinojosa. “IUEC members are the safest, most talented workers in the elevator industry; their NEIEP training really sets them up for success.”

“Visiting the NEIEP fair was nothing short of impressive,” said Congressman-elect Greg Casar. “As I traveled from station to station, it was clear that IUEC members go through world-class, thorough training, making union elevator constructors the best and brightest in the industry.”

With a combination of hands-on classroom and computer-based instruction, along with 8,000 hours of on-the-job learning under the supervision of an experienced mechanic, the IUEC’s apprenticeship program gives workers new to the trade all the skills they need to be successful elevator constructors. Once they complete their apprenticeship and pass a capstone Mechanic Exam, they go on to build and maintain the complex and varied conveyance systems in our nation’s most striking skylines. And as mechanics, they keep their skills sharp through dozens of online and in-person continuing education courses they can enroll in through NEIEP.

“On behalf of the more than 1,800 union elevator constructors in Texas, the NEIEP event in Austin was a great success,” said IUEC Organizer Clarence Baker. “We wanted lawmakers, companies, and others to come in and witness what it takes to become a union elevator constructor – and we did just that. From safety to electrical, each course is critical and, frankly, invaluable. Attendees saw firsthand how the knowledge and skills IUEC members take away from their four years at NEIEP ensure they are the most talented and safest workforce, and when it comes to safety, our members not only prioritize the safety of themselves and their colleagues but also that of the men, women, and children who ride elevators and escalators every day.”

The all-day event took place at the Hilton Austin, a hotel whose employees were recently organized and are now members of UNITE HERE.

“At NEIEP’s core, we are all about safety. Everything we teach and everything we do is to help apprentices stay safe at work,” said NEIEP’s Head of Development, Lester White. “Without education and training, how can employers expect any worker to feel safe on the job? Graduates of NEIEP know this complex field inside and out. What’s more, they know that nothing comes before safety – their own safety and that of the riding public.”

 

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Why Is Periodic Elevator Maintenance Important

elevator maintenance

As a building owner, scheduling periodic elevator maintenance checks on your properties is crucial to ensuring a safe ride for your passengers. Simple, routine maintenance checks performed by professional elevator mechanics can prolong elevator life and reduce energy waste, providing a smoother, safer travel experience while saving you time and money.

Routine elevator maintenance will keep your equipment clean, minimizing the chance of fire hazards while alerting building owners to any components that need to be replaced or refurbished. Ultimately, these checks ensure safety for you and your passengers.

Preventative Elevator Maintenance

Elevator breakdowns can lead to unanticipated downtime, serious injury, or worse – a catastrophic event. Preventative maintenance aims to mitigate issues with machinery through regular upkeep.

The mechanics responsible for checking the elevators will look for any critical signs of wear and tear, faults, or other problems that could impede an elevator’s proper function. They will identify damaged or worn-out parts, lubricate machinery and make adjustments or tunings to the equipment.

Preventative elevator maintenance, if done correctly, improves elevator services by ensuring your equipment runs better and lasts longer – with fewer calls to elevator repair companies to fix issues that could have been prevented.

Prolonged Elevator Life

The life expectancy of an elevator installation depends mainly on its type and intended use. Generally speaking, if an elevator is more than 20 years old, it can be considered an appropriate candidate for elevator modernization. Elevators typically end their cost-effective lives somewhere after 20 to 25 years.

Several variables are involved regarding the life expectancy of an elevator install. At the top of the list are environmental factors, service type, and changes in technology. The Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) recommends mandatory maintenance checks to increase your elevators’ lifespans. Elevators without regular checks may need to be modernized within their first decade of use. For building owners, this means that instead of modernizing elevator(s) based on investment, they will have to do so out of necessity.

Increased Cost Efficiency

Maintenance checks can also help optimize the energy consumption of your building’s elevator equipment. There is a range of cost-effective solutions you can choose from to optimize aging elevator equipment, ensuring energy efficiency and significantly reducing your building’s energy costs.

Probably the best time-saving, efficient method to improve the overall reduction of elevator energy costs (up to 70%) is installing regenerative drives. These can be added to existing systems, allowing the elevator’s generated energy to be fed back into the building’s power grid and used by other loads connected to the same network. Other ways to improve energy efficiency include replacing tube lights inside the elevator car with LEDs and adding modern, energy-efficient door operator systems and other equipment.

Ultimately, routine elevator maintenance checks by qualified, capable elevator mechanics can dramatically reduce your building’s electricity bills.

Improved Elevator Travel Times

Over time, elevator travel times can seem longer, which can slowly begin to inconvenience your tenants, employees, or customers. Routine elevator inspection and maintenance checks can improve travel speed and acceleration, allowing passengers to enjoy more comfortable and faster elevator travel.

An Elevator Inspection Will Save Time and Money

You can significantly extend your elevators’ lifespans by following scheduled maintenance checks. Failing to keep elevators adequately maintained and serviced will ultimately incur downtime and elevator repair costs.

Sticking to a schedule of regular elevator maintenance checks by qualified elevator mechanics can help you avoid costly losses, saving you time and money.

A Safer Ride for Your Passengers

You must keep your building’s elevators in excellent operating condition to ensure a safe ride for your tenants, employees, or customers. Safety is the primary reason for performing routine elevator maintenance for your properties – this should be a top priority for every building owner.

All elevator installation and maintenance checks must be done only by qualified elevator mechanics. Unqualified workers may cut corners during the job and fail to do a complete and thorough inspection.

If you are looking for exceptional maintenance for your building’s elevators, contact an International Union of Elevator Constructors (IUEC) affiliated elevator company and benefit from the best-qualified elevator union labor force in the industry.

Visit www.elevatorinfo.org/elevator-customers/ for assistance finding an elevator maintenance provider in your area.

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NEIEP: Increasing Elevator Mechanics’ Safety, Knowledge, and Value

Having started her career as a mechanic and National Elevator Industry Educational Program (NEIEP) instructor in the busy Metro Denver area, NEIEP Area Coordinator Kristi Savala knows how important it is to work safe.

The best way for someone coming into the elevator trade to establish a foundation of safe work practices begins with the hands-on safety training NEIEP students receive in the classroom. This is a distinction that sets NEIEP apart from other training programs in the industry, which are offered via correspondence course.

In this video, Kristi stresses how critical it is for apprentices to have the opportunity to practice using safety equipment in the classroom – this way, they can be sure they’re using it correctly and consistently on the job. “You’ve got to build that muscle memory. If they build safety into the muscle memory, and it builds habits every day, they’re not going to forget it. That’s going to save somebody’s life someday.”

NEIEP’s safety training doesn’t end when someone passes their mechanic exam and graduates to mechanic status – it’s at the heart of the program’s Continuing Education courses as well. Kristi emphasizes the importance of continuing to learn in a trade where technology and work processes are constantly being updated. “If you keep learning, you keep growing. You become that much more valuable to your coworkers, your bosses… to other people you can pass that knowledge onto. Really great skills that you can transfer (to) so many different pathways.”

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Don’t Assume Unnecessary Risks. Trust IUEC Mechanics to Maintain Your Wind Tower Elevators.

elevator info

IUEC mechanics have the knowledge, skills, and experience necessary to fulfill the needs of the wind power industry. If you are a wind tower owner or operator, don’t assume unnecessary risk by allowing your equipment to be serviced by inexperienced hands.

IUEC mechanics go through a rigorous four-year USDOL-Registered Apprenticeship program at the National Elevator Industry Educational Program (NEIEP). To graduate and achieve mechanic status, apprentices must complete 8 semesters of college-level classroom training, log 8,000 hours of on-the-job learning under the supervision of an experienced mechanic, and pass a comprehensive capstone examination.

During their apprenticeship, IUEC members master all aspects of the elevator industry including building, installing, servicing, and maintaining state-of-the-art electrical & mechanical systems. Throughout their training, safety is always a priority.

IUEC training does not end once apprenticeship is over. As part of their benefit package, journeyman mechanics regularly participate in continuing education courses to learn about new equipment, update their skill sets to adapt to changes in the industry, and refresh their knowledge base.

 

 

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IUEC Elevates Toy Box Connection Children’s Charity

The Toy Box Connection (TBC) Children’s Charity envisions a world where children facing challenging situations are connected to whatever they need – whether it be toys and books for the holidays or a special event, or mattresses and clothing for those affected by a fire, tornado, or other disaster. They help kids in hospitals, shelters, and foster homes, as well as those with parents stationed overseas.

 

Under the leadership of General President Frank Christensen, the International Union of Elevator Constructors (IUEC) has played an important role in their work. Members have donated not only their resources but their time, driving truckloads of toys, food, and other items to children in the Chicago area and beyond.

TBC Founder & Director Michelle Maxia is especially thankful for the connections the IUEC has provided to volunteers and donors from across the building trades. She describes these relationships as “like a tire – in the middle is the hub. That’s the IUEC. And there are many spokes…these are the Building Trades Unions who have said ‘yes, absolutely, what does she need, we’re there.’”

Because of this, she characterizes the IUEC as being the organization’s greatest support system. Michelle adds, “Everything matters. Every act of service. Every donation.”

If you would like to learn more about the Toy Box Connection Children’s Charity and the work they do, visit www.toyboxconnection.com.

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Elevator Constructors of IUEC Local 4 in Boston share Philosophy on Safety in Elevator Industry

IUEC Local 4 members work on elevators, escalators, and other conveyance equipment in eastern Massachusetts, the majority of New Hampshire, and all of Maine. Recently, ElevatorInfo.org visited Local 4’s headquarters in Dorchester, Massachusetts to talk with their President Doug Cullington, members of the Executive Board, Business Managers and Representatives, and new apprentices in the trade. We covered a lot of topics during our conversations, but paramount on everyone’s list of priorities was safety.

Staying focused, working safe, wearing the correct personal protective equipment – these are just some of the things that Local 4 Elevator Constructors remind themselves of daily. “To work safe is to think. Think before every move. Every step of every project must be talked about,” emphasizes Doug Cullington, President of IUEC Local 4.

“Safety is always our number one priority,” says Mary Kate Kelly, one of Local 4’s apprentice Elevator Constructors. In the video, she shares insights about the everyday hazards she encounters on the job and how she and her mechanic work to avoid them, including what they do to ensure they’re working safe around members of other trades on the jobsite. Knowing how to be proactive around potential dangers and getting everyone home to their families at the end of each day is everyone’s shared goal.

IUEC Local 4 was organized in February of 1899, and currently has almost 1,200 members.

 

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