NEIEP: Increasing Elevator Mechanics’ Safety & Knowledge

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.”