Escalators help to move people through subways, office buildings, and shopping malls, to name a few. They have become a common assistant for pedestrian travel in buildings and complexes across the country. If they are not designed or maintained properly, however, escalators can pose a hazard to the riders who rely on them. Knowing the injury risks associated with escalators and escalator rollers can help to keep you and your family safe from a serious escalator accident.
Accident Causes
Like all equipment, escalators may malfunction from time to time. Unfortunately, even a small error can lead to an accident. Some of the common causes of escalator accidents include the design flaws, poor manufacturing or installation, worn escalator belts, step collapse, lack of safety guard and low-quality escalator rollers.
According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, riders are mostly commonly injured when they fall from the escalator or when hands, feet, or clothing become trapped in the machinery. Getting caught in an escalator or falling even a short distance could lead to head trauma, broken bones, or other potentially life-threatening injuries.
Who is Liable?
To determine liability, it is important to know how the accident occurred. The property owner or manager may be responsible for poor maintenance or for failing to warn riders of an existing hazard. If a design flaw such as missing safety guards caused the accident, the design firm may be liable. Likewise, the manufacturing company may be held accountable for poor construction or installation. An escalator accident victim or his or her family has the right to initiate a lawsuit against, and pursue compensation from, the liable party.
The majority of escalator accidents happen to young children, but there has been a significant increase in elderly accidents on escalators over the past decade. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission found nearly 40,000 older adults were injured on escalators between 1991 and 2005 due to falling or tripping. Eight percent of these victims had to be admitted to the hospital after visiting the emergency room.
Escalator Safety Tips
If you have a young child or are with an elderly adult who has trouble walking, you may want to consider taking the elevator. If you do decide to use an escalator, keep the following safety tips in mind:
Escalators provide people young and old easy and usually safe travel up and down floors in large facilities like shopping malls and airports, but they can also be a potential safety threat if not maintained and used properly. Escalators can be especially dangerous for young children as well as older adults, and it is important to assist them while on an escalator and escalator rollers and be aware of their actions while riding.
Accident Causes
Like all equipment, escalators may malfunction from time to time. Unfortunately, even a small error can lead to an accident. Some of the common causes of escalator accidents include the design flaws, poor manufacturing or installation, worn escalator belts, step collapse, lack of safety guard and low-quality escalator rollers.
According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, riders are mostly commonly injured when they fall from the escalator or when hands, feet, or clothing become trapped in the machinery. Getting caught in an escalator or falling even a short distance could lead to head trauma, broken bones, or other potentially life-threatening injuries.
Who is Liable?
To determine liability, it is important to know how the accident occurred. The property owner or manager may be responsible for poor maintenance or for failing to warn riders of an existing hazard. If a design flaw such as missing safety guards caused the accident, the design firm may be liable. Likewise, the manufacturing company may be held accountable for poor construction or installation. An escalator accident victim or his or her family has the right to initiate a lawsuit against, and pursue compensation from, the liable party.
The majority of escalator accidents happen to young children, but there has been a significant increase in elderly accidents on escalators over the past decade. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission found nearly 40,000 older adults were injured on escalators between 1991 and 2005 due to falling or tripping. Eight percent of these victims had to be admitted to the hospital after visiting the emergency room.
Escalator Safety Tips
If you have a young child or are with an elderly adult who has trouble walking, you may want to consider taking the elevator. If you do decide to use an escalator, keep the following safety tips in mind:
- The first step can make or break the trip. Provide verbal and physical guidance so everyone gets on the escalator safely.
- Hold your child's hand while riding. This way you can be aware of what her or she is doing at all times on the escalator.
- Check for objects or loose-fitting clothes like a shoelace that could get caught and present a potential threat.
- Assist and supervise others on the step off the escalator.
Escalators provide people young and old easy and usually safe travel up and down floors in large facilities like shopping malls and airports, but they can also be a potential safety threat if not maintained and used properly. Escalators can be especially dangerous for young children as well as older adults, and it is important to assist them while on an escalator and escalator rollers and be aware of their actions while riding.