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Your first reaction may be, “You mean right now they’re not?!”  After three accidents, two of them fatal, in six months, the City Council is considering licensing elevator mechanics for the first time. The council is also considering a bill to require safety devices in some residential buildings to prevent elevators from skyrocketing to the ceiling.  New York is among just 14 states that do not require that elevator technicians be licensed.  Three-dozen other states already license elevator mechanics.  According to the International Union of Elevator Constructors, 25 percent fewer elevator accidents occur in states where licensing and mandatory inspections are required.  There are about 60,000 elevators in the city, and about four elevator fatalities a year.  In 2011 in the city there were 43 elevator accidents, compared with 105 in 2007.

The 2011 Annual Report, released last month, touts New York City as the nation’s safest big city in 2011.  2011 marked a near-historic low number of fire fatalities, a 10th consecutive year of fewer than 600 murders, a record-breaking low number of traffic deaths — and an 18% decrease in construction-related accidents, which follows an almost 28% reduction in 2010 from 2009.  Construction-related injury rates also continue to improve. There were approximately 8% fewer injuries in 2011 over 2010, following a nearly 32% decline in 2010 from 2009. Construction-related fatalities remained low, with five caused by falls or shoddy construction.  The Buildings Department issued 23% fewer Stop Work orders.

The NYC Buildings Department brought National Elevator Safety Awareness Week the the city last month.  There are 62,000 elevators and escalators  in the city, and children use them on a daily basis. Since 2004, more than 100 children have been injured in by an elevator or escalator in New York City. 

The program’s safety slogan is “Ring, Relax, Wait,” which reminds children to ring the elevator’s safety bell in an emergency and wait patiently for help instead of trying to pry the doors open. Many accidents occur when elevator passengers attempt to jump out of the elevator cab just before the doors unexpectedly close or the elevator moves.Many accidents occur when elevator passengers attempt to jump out of the elevator cab just before the doors unexpectedly close or the elevator moves.