The manager who does not have maintenance done in elevator accidents is also at fault

The occurrence of deaths and injuries as a result of accidents happening consecutively in elevators reveals the lack and neglect of vital maintenance in elevators. Ziya Haktan Karadeniz, the President of the Board of Directors of the Chamber of Mechanical Engineers Izmir Branch, warned not to use elevators when a ‘red’ tag is seen, emphasizing that the greatest responsibility in maintenance lies with the managers.

Recent accidents in elevators have brought up the question of how often elevator maintenance should be done. Potential accidents such as elevator cabins falling and being trapped lead to fatalities, while neglecting maintenance invites accidents.

Maintenance required every month
Ziya Haktan Karadeniz, the President of the Board of Directors of the Chamber of Mechanical Engineers Izmir Branch, stated that maintenance should be done every month. Emphasizing that the biggest cause of accidents is the lack of maintenance, Karadeniz said, ‘From the initial installation of the elevator; there are the manufacturing company, the installation company, the maintenance company, and the organizations conducting periodic inspections. These organizations should follow the whole process correctly and control it as a whole. One of the deficiencies in this process is the maintenance process. After all, this is a machine with parts that wear out and deteriorate regularly. It is necessary to replace these parts, conduct checks, and implement the necessary maintenance procedures. This is a monthly process.’

‘All responsibility lies with the managers’
President Ziya Haktan Karadeniz stated that the biggest responsibility in elevator maintenance lies with the managers. Explaining that managers should closely monitor the maintenance process, Karadeniz said, ‘In potential accidents, the biggest responsibility lies with the managers.’ Karadeniz added, ‘Apartment managers, building managers for residential or commercial buildings, building supervisors are actually the main responsible parties. They are obliged to monitor both the maintenance processes and the periodic inspection processes constantly. For example; if they receive a ‘red’ tag and it is registered as ‘unsafe’, the person responsible for getting the maintenance done or not using it until it becomes safe is the building manager. If they break the seal, the blame is entirely theirs.’

Meaning of red, yellow, blue, and green colors
Providing information about the labels attached to elevators indicating whether they are safe or not, Ziya Haktan Karadeniz, the President of the Board of Directors of the Chamber of Mechanical Engineers Izmir Branch, said, ‘Red means unsafe, yellow means faulty, blue means slightly faulty, and green means safe actually. When it’s red, we can rectify its deficiencies within 60 days and put it back into use. If the deficiencies are not corrected within 60 days, it needs to be sealed. Inspection organizations ensure the sealing by informing the apartment manager, relevant local authorities, and the municipality. The authority to seal belongs to the municipalities. The inspection organization or maintenance company has no authority here.’

‘Do not use elevators with red tags’
Ziya Haktan Karadeniz, warning not to use elevators when a red tag is seen, said, ‘Actually, the most logical action is not to use it when you see red. If it’s in the building you are in, in the building you live in, you can actually feel responsible as much as the manager. It is important to warn the manager as much as possible and ensure that the maintenance is completed quickly and, if possible, that it receives at least a blue tag.’

‘Around 80% of elevators in Izmir have blue or green tags’
President Karadeniz, stating that around 80% of elevators in Izmir have blue (slightly faulty) and green (safe) tags, continued as follows: ‘As the Chamber of Mechanical Engineers Izmir Branch, we conduct the periodic inspections of approximately 22,000 elevators. There are 60,000 elevators in Izmir. By the end of May, we have inspected about 9,500 elevators within our jurisdiction. 2,144 of them have received red tags. Most of these are actually the ones without inner doors after the regulation change. Notifications have been made for the sealing of 590 of them; in other words, they have completed 60 days after receiving the red tag. The municipality will seal it. Around 80% of elevators in Izmir have blue or green tags. Around 80% of the ones within our jurisdiction have blue or green tags. We think that most of the remaining 20% will receive blue or green tags, especially after compliance with the regulation change.’