Elevator service injuries cluster around a small number of moments: entering the pit, working on top of the car, releasing a brake, and reaching into a door operator that someone else can energise. Each has a habit that removes most of the risk.
The control measures, in order of effectiveness
| Measure | Removes | Failure mode |
|---|---|---|
| Isolate and lock out | The energy source itself | Skipped because “it’s only a minute” |
| Verify zero energy | The assumption that isolation worked | Trusting the switch instead of testing |
| Physical blocking / support | Stored energy: gravity, oil pressure | Relying on the jack or brake to hold |
| Second person / communication | Delay in getting help | Working alone in a pit or on a car top |
| Procedure discipline | The improvisation | Adapting a known procedure mid-job |
Pit entry
- Car at the correct landing, pit switch applied, entry device function confirmed.
- Lighting available before descending – if the pit light is out, that is the first repair.
- Know where the pit stop device is before you need it, and confirm it works.
- Never step onto a floor covered in oil or water without resolving it as a defect.
Top of car
- Use the car-top inspection station as intended, and confirm the stop switch function on arrival.
- Keep clear of the sheave, ropes and any moving equipment; the machine may move even when you did not command it.
- Confirm nobody on a landing can call the car while you are up there.
- Secure tools – anything dropped into the hoistway is a hazard for the next person and for the equipment.
Brake release and rescue
Releasing a brake on a loaded machine moves the car. Before releasing, know the direction it will travel, that the hoistway is clear, that nobody is in the car, and that you can regain control. Follow the machine-specific rescue procedure rather than a generic one – the sequence differs between traction, hydraulic and MRL units.
The only acceptable temporary bypass is no bypass. Interlocks, pit switches, safety chains and door circuits exist to protect people who are not you. If a device is defeated to finish a job, the job is not finished.
Related: entrapment response, pit and hoistway examination, maintenance program.