Emergency Preparedness: Elevator Malfunction: Rescue and Response

Sign Indicating Procedures in the event of Elevator Malfunction

To ensure the safety of patrons or visitors and personnel who use, or maintain the elevators at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, under no circumstances should anyone, other than a trained and experienced elevator technician attempt to perform repairs to an elevator or its associated equipment, or attempt to rescue any entrapped passenger(s) unless a bona fide emergency, such as a risk to life or a fire, exists.

The only personnel authorized to access elevator shafts and cars, in other than normal usage, are the elevator technicians, the university's hired elevator contractors, or personnel under the direct supervision of an experienced elevator technician. UWM employs two full time elevator technicians who can generally respond to most elevator malfunctions within 20 minutes.

Under certain rare circumstances, when it is believed that a serious life/safety hazard exists, police or fire department personnel may access elevator shafts or cars using the proper procedures as outlined in ASME A17.4, "Emergency Evacuation of Passengers from Elevators".

In the case of an entrapped person or persons:

  • Personnel who are on the scene should attempt to locate the car and communicate with the passenger(s) by any means available, including yelling through the closed shaft doorways if necessary. Ensure the passenger(s) that they are totally safe in the car, ask them to remain calm and inform them that help is on the way.
  • Insist that the passenger(s) remain in the car until an experienced elevator technician is called to the scene.
  • Check all floors to visually verify that all of the shaft doors are closed.
  • If a shaft door is found either fully or partially open, do not attempt to close it.
  • Keep all others away from an open shaft door until the elevator technician arrives.
  • Identify the building and if the building contains multiple elevator units, identify the specific elevator number or elevator location (if in a bank of elevators).
  • Locate the floor position of the elevator.
  • Verify whether or not the elevator is "empty" or there is an "entrapment". Verify whether the elevator doors are "closed" or "open.
  • Report the status of the elevator:

    Example: "Enderis Hall, elevator #2, 5th floor, the doors are open, the elevator is 6" above the floor, the main power has / has not been turned off" to the Department of Facility Services "Trouble Report" phone line at 229-4742 during regular business hours (7:00 A.M. - 4:30 P.M) or after regular business hours to 229-4652 (This number is answered during non-working hours by Heating/Chilling plant employees who will respond to emergencies by calling in appropriate maintenance personnel).

  • If the doors are open, after the power has been turned off, and after persons have been safely removed, if possible pull doors closed (even if they can only be partially closed). This will help keep the public from entering and possibly becoming trapped.

The Department of Facility Services sponsors periodic elevator training for the University's Police Department and the Milwaukee Fire Department.

Updated May 16, 2007 by SAK