Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-11-21
John s. MEYERS "
On Protecting the Public Against
Elovsf0p AccidentA :,


Elevator Accidents ),
rHE system of protection against acci,
i dents on public elevators has been ie-
duced by the Bureau Of Elevator Inspection
to the point where the chances are only one
in $50 ,OOO. 900 that a person Will be killed
in a passenger. elevator accident, according
to Chief John 8: Meyers. OF the Bureau OF
Elevator Inspection. D.
Last year." said Chief Meyers, "there
were only twenty five elevator accidents IN
the city, and Of these eleven resulted fatally.
OF the twenty five accidents. five were IN
passenger elevators, and there were only two
fatalities. When 1t Is taken into consider
alton that about 1000 900 persons q day
use the passenger elevators Of the city, It
will be seen that the percentage Of fatal
accidents rs compared with the number OF
persons carried Is almost NIL.
Growth OF the Bureau
1.-THE insuring Of the safety of passengers
on the elevators of the city has been thing
Of comparatively slow growth. The first
inspections were made about twenty two
years ago. that Is in 1900. and as entered
the service Of the bureau two years later,
I have seen practically all Of the increase
the elevator passenger.
"The bureau began 40 branch Of the
Boiler Inspection Department. and at that
time there were two inspectors appointed
by ordinance Of Council 70 investigate ele-
vator accidents: At that time there were
manent record Of the accidents kept; It was
simply an investigation after the accident
happened to ascertain the cause and any
possible culpability.
1.-TWO years later the number Of inspectors
was increased to eight additional elevator
inspectors and two tank inspectors tor the
hydraulic tanks which generate power on
hydraulic elevators, Of which many were IN
use at that time. These have been generally
superseded by the electric elevator.
'This made twelve In all, and the ele.
yator inspection became a part OF the
Bureau OF Building Inspection. In 1905
By act OF tsr the ss
Public Safety, where 1t has since remained
We have now a chief, a deputy chief,
twenty four inspectors and SUFFICIENT
clerical force.
Elevators Of tho City
There are now. In Philadelphia about
O60O elevators. All passenger. and power
freight elevators are inspected four times q
year and hand. power elevators twice a year.
At the beginning Of the current year there
elevators, 5osl power freight elevators
sling hoists. making sss4 in all. The re.
mainder was composed Of elevators out oi
service, or tnOSe IN vucuuL OuuuuBbs
''In conjunction with this the bureau
supervises the erection and operation oi
builders hoists used on new buildings. Last
year the records show x, ,17b inspections
made, besides visits made to 1850 building'
either vacant or closed. These visits wers
made for the periodic inspection.
''The number OF accidents fuctuates, Al
Is to be expected. In 1915. for example
there were fifty mine, and the next yeal
1.-THE one in which We entered the ,wal
with it's labor shortage) It reached Its higt
point, with sixty .eight. In the following
years It remained around fifty a year unit
1921, when the low level was reached with
twenty five. These hre the total number o.
accidents on all kinds OF elevators, Of which
as have shown. only five out Of the twenty
| Ave were on passenger elevatorss and o.
| thess only two were fatal.
Pssssnssrs Thoroughly Preteetsd
'The modern passenger elevator 70 equip
ned with all manner OF safety Devices, ant
| Il Ia under the constant inspection OF th,
city 10 see that the elevator and all tn,
devices are working well. The inspector
are all thoroughly competent elevator. me
| chanics who know the operation and tn
Equipment OF all manner Of elevators.
"fhe great majority OF the accident
occur on the freight elevators:: II !! tmpos
thcm. Nearly Ill the accidents which hap
| PSI on The .pea.ngeI elsyese9 aro due Z.
! {kt pSssoa Who Il, lajasel 3oylns 10 ct OF
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