The elevator speed governor–safety gear linkage device has failed, posing a major safety hazard of car fall.
Although elevator safety accidents have a low probability of occurrence, their consequences are severe, involving the entire chain of design, manufacturing, installation, use, and maintenance. GB 7588-2003 "Safety Code for the Construction and Installation of Elevators," as the fundamental law of elevator safety, covers all safety device requirements with more than 120 clauses. The "Special Equipment Safety Law" stipulates safety management responsibilities from the legal perspective. This article systematically analyzes the elevator safety protection system and accident prevention measures.
The eight major safety protection devices include the speed governor and safety gear system, door lock device, buffer, upward overspeed protection, emergency stop switch, overload protection, rope break protection, and phase protection. The speed governor and safety gear trigger to clamp the guide rails when the elevator overspeeds to 115% to 130% of rated speed, preventing the car from falling. The door lock engagement depth shall be no less than 7 mm; the elevator cannot operate when the landing door and car door are not fully closed.
Analysis of typical safety accidents shows that car falls are mostly caused by the failure of the speed governor and safety gear; a 2015 shopping mall accident investigation found that the safety gear had never undergone a linkage test. Shearing accidents are usually caused by maintenance personnel illegally short-circuiting the door lock circuit, which is one of the most dangerous maintenance operations. Elevator top-climbing and bottom-striking are caused by brake failure or insufficient traction capacity. Elevator door zone accidents result from passengers forcibly prying open doors and falling into the hoistway.
The safety management system requires user units to establish safety management systems and equip certified safety administrators. Maintenance units shall strictly perform maintenance in accordance with TSG T5002 regulations and immediately report any hidden dangers found. Apply annually to a special equipment inspection agency for periodic inspection of 43 items. Conduct monthly safety hazard investigations and establish a hazard ledger. Organize a trapped-person rescue drill once every six months.
Engineering experience shows that maintenance personnel must hold certificates and are strictly prohibited from operating without certificates. Short-circuiting safety circuits is strictly prohibited and will be dealt with seriously once discovered. Steel wire ropes that reach scrapping standards must be replaced immediately, including when any of the number of broken wires, diameter reduction, or elongation rate exceeds the limit. Test the linkage of the speed governor and safety gear quarterly and send the speed governor for inspection annually. Keep the pit dry and check the buffer for corrosion annually.
Intelligent safety management improves safety levels through IoT monitoring, AI video analysis, and electronic fences. Automatic trapped-person identification automatically activates the emergency plan and notifies all parties upon detecting a trapped person. The electronic maintenance sign-in system ensures maintenance personnel arrive on time and at the designated points.
The economic investment in elevator safety management and safety benefits need to be balanced. The annual safety inspection cost per elevator is approximately 500 to 1,000 yuan, and the safety device retrofit cost is approximately 5,000 to 20,000 yuan. These investments are negligible compared with the loss of life and property and legal liability caused by elevator accidents. It is recommended that hotel property management incorporate elevator safety management into the annual budget to ensure that safety investment is not compromised. Elevator safety riding publicity is equally important; post safety notices and precautions in elevator halls and car interiors to guide passengers to ride civilly and travel safely. Regularly organize elevator safety knowledge training to improve users' safety awareness and emergency handling capabilities.
From the perspective of legal compliance, elevator safety management involves the intersecting requirements of multiple laws and regulations. The Special Equipment Safety Law clearly stipulates that the elevator user unit is the responsible entity for safety management and shall establish safety management systems such as job responsibility, hidden danger governance, and emergency rescue. Elevator maintenance units are responsible for the safety performance of the elevators they maintain and bear corresponding legal liability for accidents caused by inadequate maintenance. Elevator inspection and testing agencies are responsible for inspection and testing conclusions and are legally punished for issuing false reports. It is recommended that hotel property management establish a three-tier responsibility system for elevator safety management: the user unit is responsible for daily management, the maintenance unit is responsible for technical maintenance, and the inspection agency is responsible for supervisory inspection. At least one elevator safety emergency drill shall be organized annually, including subjects such as trapped-person rescue and fire recall. Elevator safety technical archives shall be properly kept, including factory documents, installation documents, maintenance records, fault records, and inspection reports, with a retention period of no less than the elevator's service life. Acceptance inspection after elevator modification or major repair shall be entrusted to an inspection agency, and the elevator shall not be put into use without passing inspection. Through a sound safety management system and strict implementation of responsibilities, ensure that the elevator is always in a safe operating state.
From the perspective of legal compliance, elevator safety management involves the intersecting requirements of multiple laws and regulations. The Special Equipment Safety Law clearly stipulates that the elevator user unit is the responsible entity for safety management and shall establish safety management systems such as job responsibility, hidden danger governance, and emergency rescue. Elevator maintenance units are responsible for the safety performance of the elevators they maintain and bear corresponding legal liability for accidents caused by inadequate maintenance. Elevator inspection and testing agencies are responsible for inspection and testing conclusions and are legally punished for issuing false reports. It is recommended that hotel property management establish a three-tier responsibility system for elevator safety management: the user unit is responsible for daily management, the maintenance unit is responsible for technical maintenance, and the inspection agency is responsible for supervisory inspection. At least one elevator safety emergency drill shall be organized annually, including subjects such as trapped-person rescue and fire recall. Elevator safety technical archives shall be properly kept, including factory documents, installation documents, maintenance records, fault records, and inspection reports, with a retention period of no less than the elevator's service life. Acceptance inspection after elevator modification or major repair shall be entrusted to an inspection agency, and the elevator shall not be put into use without passing inspection. Through a sound safety management system and strict implementation of responsibilities, ensure that the elevator is always in a safe operating state. The construction of elevator safety culture must not be overlooked either. It is recommended to install safety notice signs and safety riding publicity videos in elevator cars. Regularly carry out elevator safety knowledge activities in communities and schools to raise public awareness of safe elevator riding. Professional training for elevator safety management personnel shall be conducted annually, covering laws and regulations, safety technology, emergency rescue, and accident case analysis. Elevator safety investment should not be regarded as a cost but as a guarantee of future personal safety and avoidance of legal liability risks. A well-established elevator safety management system can achieve the management goal of zero accidents and zero complaints, providing a solid guarantee for the safe operation of the hotel.
The full life cycle management of elevator safety also involves the modification and major repair stages. When an elevator has been in service for more than 15 years or frequently malfunctions, modification or renewal should be considered. The modification plan shall be determined according to the actual condition of the elevator and user needs, including replacing the control system, updating the traction system, renovating car decoration, and upgrading safety devices. Elevator modification is a major repair, and the modification plan shall be implemented only after review and approval by an inspection agency. The modified elevator shall undergo supervisory inspection again and may be put into operation only after passing inspection. Elevator renewal refers to the dismantling and reinstallation of the entire elevator; the renewal plan shall involve re-selection and design of the elevator according to the building structure and user needs. During elevator renewal, temporary access plans shall be properly arranged to minimize the impact on the normal use of the building. The costs of elevator modification and renewal shall be included in the property's annual maintenance fund budget, with funds prepared in advance. The warranty period after elevator modification and renewal shall be no less than 2 years, during which maintenance shall be the responsibility of the modification unit. Technical testing of elevator safety is an important means of discovering potential hidden dangers. The annual inspection of elevators is conducted by special equipment inspection agencies, covering technical document review, equipment appearance inspection, safety device testing, and operational performance testing. Non-conforming items in the annual inspection shall be rectified within a time limit, and re-inspection shall be conducted after rectification until passing. The periodic inspection cycle for elevators is 1 year, and they may continue to be used only after passing inspection. Elevator technical testing data shall be included in the elevator health file; through comparative analysis of testing data over the years, the degradation trend of elevator performance can be identified, providing a scientific basis for preventive maintenance and timely modification.
The responsibility system for elevator safety management should clearly define the duties and obligations of all parties. The user unit, as the primary responsible party for elevator safety, should establish an elevator safety management system, assign certified safety management personnel, and organize emergency drills and periodic inspections. The maintenance unit, as the party directly responsible for elevator safety, should perform standardized maintenance of elevators in accordance with TSG T5002 requirements, and promptly report and address any hidden hazards identified. The inspection agency, as the supervisor of elevator safety, should conduct inspections in accordance with technical specifications to ensure the accuracy and impartiality of inspection results. The tripartite collaborative work of elevator safety management forms a management synergy through regular communication and coordination meetings. The economic input and safety benefits of elevator safety management need to be reasonably balanced. The annual safety inspection cost per elevator is approximately 500 to 1,000 yuan, and the safety device retrofit cost is approximately 5,000 to 20,000 yuan. These investments are negligible compared with the loss of life and property and legal liability caused by elevator accidents. It is recommended that hotel property management incorporate elevator safety management into the annual budget to ensure that safety investment is not compromised. Publicity on safe elevator riding is equally important: post safety notices and precautions in elevator lobbies and car interiors to guide passengers to ride civilly and travel safely. Regularly organize elevator safety knowledge training to raise users' safety awareness and emergency response capabilities.
The regulatory system for elevator safety management is continuously being improved, and the compliance responsibilities of user units are becoming increasingly clear. The Special Equipment Safety Law, elevator safety technical specifications and various standards constitute a complete regulatory system for elevator safety management, and user units should fully understand and strictly implement them. External auditing and third-party assessment of elevator safety management are effective means to improve management levels; by introducing safety assessments by professional institutions, management loopholes and safety hazards can be identified. Experience exchange in elevator safety management is equally important; by participating in safety exchange activities organized by industry associations, advanced management experience and technical methods can be learned. Continuous improvement of elevator safety management requires establishing a PDCA cycle, i.e., a closed-loop management mechanism of Plan-Do-Check-Act, to improve the level and quality of elevator safety management through continuous iterative cycles.
The safe and reliable operation of observation elevators is the prerequisite for all operational activities, and regular inspection and maintenance are the basic guarantees for ensuring their normal operation. It is essential to take preventive measures; only by adhering to standardized maintenance management can the long-term safe and reliable operation of observation elevators be ensured.