The New York herald., 1922-04-16
Heavy Toll of Human Life.


Reduction OF accidents with their
heavy toll of human life Is the ann OF
the elevator safety code. The larger
a city is and the more congested the
business district the greater will be the
number of elevators per thousand popu-
lation," said the societys statement
"Safe as modern elevator travel Is there
are still large number of elevator ac-
cldents. The number of fatal accidents
throughout the country reported by
press clipping bureaus for period OF
1--WE and one-half years was 97S. while
the non-fatal accidents totaled 1886.
"It Is safe to assume that the total
accidents in the entire country during
this period was at least twice this num-
ber. New York city alone, according
TO the Coroner's records, killed not less
than 721 persons in a period OF two
years Inclusive, while Chicago lists 401
fatalities for period of thirteen years.
Contrary TO popular opinion only
very small percentage of the total num-
Der OF accidents are due to the drop
ping of the elevators: certainly not over
6 per cent. are attributable to this
cause modern safety devices and higher
factors OF safety for cables have practi-
cally eliminated falling cars as a source
OF accident.
Approximately thrce-duarters OF the
fatal, and serious non-fatal accidents oc-
Z curing in the United States occur at the
hoistway doors. and strangely enough
these accidents are almost evenly di-
vfded between the classifcations Fab
ing down the hoistway and Crushed by
moving car Practically all such acci-
dents may be eliminated by the installa-
tlon OF interlocks which will prevent the
movement of the car while the hoistway
door is opened or unlocked. and will
hold the hoistway door locked when the
car is not at the landing. The new
safety code for elevators issued by the
American Society OF Mechanical Engi-
neers urges the use of such interlochs
on ali passenger elevators
All interests Represented.
This code was prepared by COM
mittee on which we're representatives
or practically all interests concerned:
elevator manufacturers, insurance inter-
ests. manufacturers of elevator special
tics. State and municipal officers and
the United States Bureau of Standards.
There Is now in course of formation
4 permanent elevator code committee
which will be sponsored by the Ameri-
can Society OF Mechanical Engineers,
tho American Institute of Architects
and the United States Bureau of Stand
ards representative sectional COM
rnittee, working under the direction of
these sponsors and under the rules of
procedure of the American engineering
standards committee. will revise this
code fern time TO time. keeping IL up
TO date. and will assist i'm the inter-
probation and revision Of local. munic-
ipal or State codes based on IL if so
requested.
There is no doubt that standard
code for elevators Is highly desirable.
but few persons have. ever considered
that II is virtually necessary IL such
equipment is TO be built and installed
At a minimum cost. At the present time
elevator builders must consult city or
dinances or State codes with regard to
allowable speeds, factors of safety OF
machines. cables. sizes. safety devices
permitted. size of guide rails and in
Vulnerable other details. In other words,
at the present time each elevator is
practically a special order Job.
IF there were uniform State laws
and city ordinances covering elevators
The manufacturers could standardize
practically all OF their equipment and
could consequently sell their product for
less than the present price. Business
men are beginning to awaken to the
value OF standardized production"
The socletys committee started the
development OF the Elevator Safety
Code In 1915. and the work has been
going on systematically until now the
code ia available as a basis for uniform