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For Immediate Release
July 5, 2016

DOB LAUNCHES “STAY SAFE. STAY PUT.” CAMPAIGN FOR ELEVATOR SAFETY

NEW YORK — This week, the New York City Department of Buildings launched the agency’s “Stay Safe. Stay Put.” campaign to remind New Yorkers that if you’re stuck in an elevator, the safest place to be is inside the car. Just ring, relax, and wait for help to arrive. Elevators are among the very safest forms of transportation, but New Yorkers have been seriously injured trying to escape stalled elevators.

Remember, if you’re stuck in an elevator: “Stay Safe. Stay Put.”

Please click here to see DOB’s video message to New Yorkers about elevator safety. Please click here to see DOB’s print advertisement that’s running in newspapers Citywide starting this week.

“New York’s elevators make billions of safe trips a year, so they’re one of the safest forms of transportation – but you still need to use common sense. Don’t overload elevators and if you get stuck, don’t panic. Ring the alarm, relax, and wait for help to arrive,” said Buildings Commissioner Rick Chandler.

Injuries sustained by New York City elevator passengers have decreased significantly over the last ten years, from 105 injuries in 2007 to 51 last year. The City’s more than 71,000 elevators make billions of safe trips each year -- making elevator travel in New York City far safer than any other form of transportation.

However, two incidents that occurred late last year highlight the dangers of trying to escape stalled elevator cars. On October 5, 2015, a man died trying to escape an elevator car that stalled due to overloading at 156 Hope Street in Brooklyn. And on New Year’s Eve last year, another man was killed in a similar incident at 131 Broome Street in Manhattan.

Background on DOB’s Elevator Unit

Elevators are a standard part of life in New York City. Decades of improved technology have minimized the risks so much that few people know it’s dangerous to use these machines the wrong way.

The Elevator Unit ensures the operational safety, reliable service and lawful use of vertical transportation devices throughout the City, including elevators, escalators, amusement rides, personnel hoists, dumbwaiters, material lifts, wheelchair lifts, conveyors, and other related devices.

The Unit ensures that each elevator in the city is inspected at least twice a year: once by DOB or a DOB-hired inspection firm, and once by the building owner. Every five years, building owners must perform an intensive elevator inspection, including load tests to ensure that the elevator can hold its rated capacity, and report the results to DOB.

Additional Tips for Elevator Safety:

Look down and make sure the elevator is level with the floor while entering and exiting.

Do not exit the elevator if it stops more than 9 inches from the landing.

Press the “door open” button to hold elevator doors open instead of using any part of your body.

Never lean on elevator doors.

Keep clothing items like ties and scarves clear of closing elevator doors.

Be patient and don’t crowd the elevator. Too many people crowded into elevators can cause it to get stuck.

Don’t jump in elevators -- jumping can make an elevator uneven with the floor. You can also get stuck.

Contact: dobcommunications@buildings.nyc.gov, (212) 393-2126
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