Soft rubber shoes responsible for 99 pct of escalator accidents

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Mohd Hatta (right) and Datin Christine Ling placing a safety sign at the foot of an escalator

Mohd Hatta (right) and Datin Christine Ling placing a safety sign at the foot of an escalator

KUCHING: If you are wearing soft rubber shoes, be extra careful when using the escalator or you might find yourself missing a few toes or even a leg.

Investigations led by the Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) has found that 99 per cent of 31 escalator accidents recorded in Malaysia from 2011 to 2015 were found to involve those wearing soft rubber shoes, as they are easily pulled or snagged by moving escalators.

DOSH Sarawak director Mohd Hatta Zakaria revealed this yesterday when officiating at the Escalator Safety Day programme at tHe Spring Shopping Mall.

In Sarawak, DOSH has recorded eight dangerous accidents and incidences linked to escalators from 2011 to 2016 so far.

Hatta pointed out several serious accidents have happened on escalators and mostly involving children, including a case where a toddler lost two fingers after getting them trapped in a landing comb at a shopping mall in Sarawak in 2014.

So far, DOSH Sarawak has conducted Escalator Safety Usage Operations on 555 escalators this year, and issued five directives and 60 notices to proprietors for escalators that failed to meet the specified safety requirements, he highlighted.

“Sometimes, over-eagerness and negligence by customers, and cost-cutting steps taken by owners of escalators can lead to undesirable incidents.

“Therefore, greater safety awareness on escalators must be inculcated and given priority at all times,” he said in his speech.

DOSH is open to the idea of working together with shopping malls and other premises to promote escalator safety awareness campaigns following several recent cases involving escalators.

Mohd Hatta said the Escalator Safety Day programme at tHe Spring was a positive step which should be emulated by other premises owners.

He explained such safety campaigns are in accordance with Section 17 of the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1997 regarding the proprietor’s responsibility to ensure the safety of others apart from workers in the workplace.

To ensure that escalators are always fit to be used, he said DOSH has made it a condition to owners of premises to only let competent persons and firms to service and maintain escalators installed in their premises.

He pointed out the escalators, and also lifts, must be serviced every month and undergo maintenance every three months.

“On the 15th of every month, the escalator and lift will be checked by officers from DOSH. This is being implemented to ensure these devices are safe at all times,” he said.

He also called on proprietors to follow the instructions on the Safety Guidelines For Lifts and Escalators issued by DOSH and the Lift Contractors Association in 2010.

Meanwhile, tHe Spring Management Services general manager Datin Christine Ling said the shopping mall has its own maintenance SOPs (standard operating procedures) to ensure the safety of shoppers, while their escalators are also inspected annually by DOSH to guarantee renewal of their certificate of fitness.

“All necessary warning signs are also placed on our escalators to serve as a guideline for the public. However, as much as we want to contribute to public awareness, it is also important for parents and guardians to cooperate with us, to exercise caution and supervise their children when using escalators.

“Most importantly, ensure that your children are not left unsupervised near any escalators,” she advised.

Yesterday’s campaign was organised by tHe Spring in collaboration with DOSH and HPL Elevator Sdn Bhd. It was aimed at raising awareness of escalator safety especially amongst parents and children.

Videos featuring tips on how to ride the escalator safely and how to practise safe behaviour around escalators to avoid mishaps were also shown during the event. There was also a children’s colouring contest offering 16 prizes worth over RM1,000.