Recently, a woman tripped over her suitcase and fell while walking on a moving walkway at Don Mueang Airport last month. Her leg was pulled into the walkway mechanism and she was sent to a nearby hospital. Unfortunately, the lower part of her left leg had to be amputated.
In the middle of this month, people were startled to see a video that showed a shoe stuck in an escalator at Central Westgate. The department store later explained on its official Facebook page that the incident occurred because a customer missed a step while getting off and lost his shoe in the process. Nobody was injured in the incident.
Due to public concern involving accidents on walkways, escalators and elevators, Kasetsart University (KU) recently organised a talk on "How To Stay Safe Using Technology Involving Moving Conveniences Like Escalators And Elevators" via Facebook and the YouTube channel of KU Radio Thailand.
Assoc Prof Nongluck Manowaluilou, president of Digital Technology for Education at the Faculty of Education, hosted the forum. Speakers included Assoc Prof Wichai Siwakosit, a lecturer from the Department of Mechanical Engineering, the Faculty of Engineering at KU; Pramote Promrak, a committee member of The Lift Association of Thailand, and Pumin Lekmanee, an investigator from the Office of the Consumer Protection Board (OCPB).
Based on statistics, Pramote insisted that elevators and escalators are safe, but Thais do not know much about them because Thailand's educational institutions do not include content regarding elevators and escalators in their curriculum. He gave an example of a news article that reported a situation when an elevator was stuck. A group of people tried to pry the elevator open using a thick wooden plank and a steel rod. Actually, there are emergency keys which can be used to open the elevator, but most people are not aware of it.
After escalator accidents were reported in the news, several videos suggesting safe standing locations were released. Pramote explained that users are safe at any location except for the yellow demarcation lines on the escalators. Additionally, he elaborated on three main causes of why accidents involving escalators and elevators occur.
To stay safe, people should not step on the yellow demarcation lines on escalators. (Photo: Pornprom Satrabhaya)
"First, the machinery does not meet international standards such as JIS (Japanese Industrial Standards), EN81 (European Standards) or ASME. A17.1 (American Society of Mechanical Engineers). Second, some building owners do not place importance on preventive maintenance which requires a monthly routine inspection. The last cause is from users because they do not know how to safely use the machines and take safety precautions."
When escalators, elevators and moving walkways malfunction or cause accidents, people who are injured can file complaints with the Office of the Consumer Protection Board. Pumin, the investigator at OCPB, explained that those who file complaints must be customers who purchased goods or services from a business. He emphasised the customers' right to have safe services provided. They also have the right to be compensated for any damages brought about by unsafe services or goods provided by companies.
The OCPB investigator also added there are two sections in consumer protection law that can apply to damages occurring from malfunctions of escalators, elevators and moving walkways. First, if a product or service causes harm to others, the offender shall be liable to imprisonment for not longer than five years or a fine of not more than 1 million baht, or both imprisonment and a fine. Second, if a product or service causes the death of a customer, the offender shall be liable to imprisonment for a term ranging from one year to 10 years, or a fine ranging from 200,000 baht to 2 million baht, or both imprisonment and fine.
When the host asked how much compensation the woman who lost her leg due to the moving walkway at Don Mueang Airport would receive, Pumin explained that there are many factors to consider.
"We need to take into account the victim's occupation, salary, how many children she has, and expenses due to her lost limb. Each victim will receive different compensation based on the court's decision. For a case of injury or disability, there may be ongoing medical expenses. In case of a deceased victim, there will be a one-time payment."
Due to accidents on escalators, there is news advising people not to wear soft rubber shoes, but Pramote had a different opinion. He said people with any kind of shoe can be safe on escalators.
"To stay safe, people should not step on the yellow demarcation lines on escalators and moving walkways. The comb plate, which is located at both ends of escalators or moving walkways, was designed to prevent even children's fingers from getting trapped. However, accidents can occur if a comb is broken. When getting off an escalator and a moving walkway, people should step over the comb as if when they are stepping over a threshold. If someone wears a rubber shoe and is concerned about safety, he/she should use an elevator instead," Pramote suggested.
One attendee of the talk forum raised the issue that escalator combs in many department stores are broken. He questioned if any organisations are in charge of escalators maintenance. Pramote replied that a maintenance company is responsible for addressing these issues. However, when a maintenance company identifies a damaged part and reports it to a building owner, the owner often delays repairs due to budget constraints.
"In developed countries, there is a stipulation that specifies how often devices/machinery must undergo maintenance. Maintenance technicians have the authority to declare the machinery nonfunctioning and shut it down. All documents related to maintenance are signed and legally effective. This makes technicians more careful because they are held accountable under both civil and criminal law. I hope we will implement similar measures in Thailand," added Assoc Prof Wichai.
On escalators and moving walkways, some passengers who are in a hurry walk or even run on machines. However, according to the speakers, passengers should not walk or run at all because if an escalator or a walkway immediately stops, they can lose balance and cause an accident which may injure other passengers.
Pramote warned audiences who like to use freight elevators that they should not ride in one that only carries products because they do not meet the standards of passenger elevators. He also advised parents to carry small children when using escalators, walkways and elevators; and pet owners should also do the same regardless of how big their pets are.
(Photo: Somchai Poomlard)
"Children aged younger than 12 are prohibited from using elevators alone," added Pramote.
To prevent accidents and damages in the future, Assoc Prof Wichai suggested that the government should stipulate maintenance standards and standards of maintenance technicians' skills to increase the safety of escalators, elevators and walkways.
Pramote confirmed that escalators and elevators are safe. If people follow instructions and use them with care, it will reduce accidents or severe accidents from occurring.
If people get stuck in an elevator and they want to file a complaint with OCPB, Pumin advised that authorities must consider if any damage has occurred. If yes, the building owner is held accountable under both civil and criminal law. If children aged under 12 are stuck in an elevator, their parents may share the fault because they neglected their children.
"People who want to file complaints, but do not know if they have a case or not, or do not know how to write a complaint can call OCPB hotline at 1166. Anyone can fill out a complaint form at complaint.ocpb.go.th. The OCPB officials will assist consumers free of charge throughout the process," said Pumin.
