An elevator system (101, 201, 301, 401) comprising: an elevator car (103, 203) movable along an elevator shaft (117, 217), the shaft (117, 217) having a pit floor, the elevator car (103, 203) having an elevator car door sill (306, 406); and a car apron assembly (300, 400) comprising: a collapsible guard (308, 422) comprising at least one guard element (310a-310d, 422) that is moveable from a deployed state to a compressed state; a guard frame (312, 412) fixedly connected to the at least one guard element (310a-310d, 422) by one or more reinforcement elements (314, 414); a translating member (316, 416) arranged at each end of the guard frame (312, 412); and a guide member (318, 418) fixedly connected to the elevator car (103, 203), wherein: the collapsible guard (308, 422) is urged from the deployed state toward the compressed state as the at least one guard element (310a-310d, 422) contacts the pit floor, when transitioning from the deployed state to the compressed state, the translating member (316, 416) translates along the guide member (318, 418); and when in the deployed state the collapsible guard (308, 422) extends below the elevator car (103, 203) to block an open landing door that is lower than the elevator car (103, 203) when the elevator car (103, 203) is positioned offset and above an adjacent landing characterized in that in the compressed state the at least one guard element (310a-310d, 422) is positioned within the car door sill (306, 406). an elevator car (103, 203) movable along an elevator shaft (117, 217), the shaft (117, 217) having a pit floor, the elevator car (103, 203) having an elevator car door sill (306, 406); and a car apron assembly (300, 400) comprising: a collapsible guard (308, 422) comprising at least one guard element (310a-310d, 422) that is moveable from a deployed state to a compressed state; a guard frame (312, 412) fixedly connected to the at least one guard element (310a-310d, 422) by one or more reinforcement elements (314, 414); a translating member (316, 416) arranged at each end of the guard frame (312, 412); and a guide member (318, 418) fixedly connected to the elevator car (103, 203), a collapsible guard (308, 422) comprising at least one guard element (310a-310d, 422) that is moveable from a deployed state to a compressed state; a guard frame (312, 412) fixedly connected to the at least one guard element (310a-310d, 422) by one or more reinforcement elements (314, 414); a translating member (316, 416) arranged at each end of the guard frame (312, 412); and a guide member (318, 418) fixedly connected to the elevator car (103, 203), wherein: the collapsible guard (308, 422) is urged from the deployed state toward the compressed state as the at least one guard element (310a-310d, 422) contacts the pit floor, when transitioning from the deployed state to the compressed state, the translating member (316, 416) translates along the guide member (318, 418); and when in the deployed state the collapsible guard (308, 422) extends below the elevator car (103, 203) to block an open landing door that is lower than the elevator car (103, 203) when the elevator car (103, 203) is positioned offset and above an adjacent landing characterized in that in the compressed state the at least one guard element (310a-310d, 422) is positioned within the car door sill (306, 406). the collapsible guard (308, 422) is urged from the deployed state toward the compressed state as the at least one guard element (310a-310d, 422) contacts the pit floor, when transitioning from the deployed state to the compressed state, the translating member (316, 416) translates along the guide member (318, 418); and when in the deployed state the collapsible guard (308, 422) extends below the elevator car (103, 203) to block an open landing door that is lower than the elevator car (103, 203) when the elevator car (103, 203) is positioned offset and above an adjacent landing characterized in that in the compressed state the at least one guard element (310a-310d, 422) is positioned within the car door sill (306, 406).