Enhance safety Defining the way we work
Safety is a Schindler core value. We succeed when passengers trust and experience our products to be safe and reliable, and our employees and subcontractors work in safe and secure conditions.
We do not compromise on the safety and health of those who use our products and work for our business. We believe that all injuries, work-related illnesses and accidents are preventable, and we have the highest standards of safety and health performance in place.
We strive for a zero-incident culture based on prevention, hazard awareness, continuous improvement and training and compliance with procedures. Strong feedback mechanisms inform our measures, all governed by expert committees on local and global levels. The Global Safety Committee is chaired by the CEO.
- Product Safety
- Tips for Owners and Managers
- Tips for Users
- Just for kids
Product Safety
Safety is a fundamental value of Schindler. It is implicit in our products and services and in the way we work. We do not compromise on the safety and health of our Customers and on those who work for our business.
Elevator Safety Features
Today's elevator systems adhere to strict safety codes and standards and incorporate a wide variety of features designed to help reduce the chance of accidents and to give passengers a quick, dependable ride. Some of the numerous safety features offered include:
- Safety brakes
- Door sensors and closing devices
- Hoistway door interlocks and safety switches
- Door restraints
- Emergency evacuation feature
- Pit buffers
- Emergency alarm switches
- Emergency telephones or communications devices
- Emergency power and lighting
- Fire emergency systems
Escalators & Moving Walks
Today's escalators and moving walks are designed to adhere to strict safety code requirements, and incorporate a variety of safety features designed to encourage proper ridership and prevent accidents. Some of the safety features offered include:
- Sensors to trigger automatic shutdown if a component is outside of its normal position
- Skirt Brushes to help prevent objects from being caught in the escalator
- Handrail Motion Detectors
- Step Integrity Monitors
- Missing Step and Step Level Monitors
- Comb Plate Detectors
- Skirt Switches
- Emergency Stop Buttons
- Controlled Stop Braking
- Understep Lighting
- Yellow Comb Fingers
- Handrail Guards
Tips for Owners/Managers
We understand the needs of our Customers. It is our goal to help you plan and prepare for comfortable people transport in real-world situations so we've provided a few helpful guidelines below.
Before Calling for Service
- Confirm that there is a problem, particularly if you hear about it second hand.
- Check the STOP switch or button. Be sure it's in the normal "run" position.
- Check all keyed or restricted switches to be sure they're in their normal "run" positions.
- Check for doorway obstructions. This can include foreign matter in door sill grooves or objects blocking complete closure of the doors.
- Be sure you're receiving full power from your utility. Have a qualified person check to see if there is a tripped breaker on the main power supply.
Stalled Elevators
Contact people in the car. Make sure no one has accidentally activated the emergency STOP switch. If not, assure them that help is being called.
Call your elevator service company and advise them that you have an entrapment. Continue communicating with people in the car. Assure them that they are in no danger, and remind them that they should remain in the car until help arrives. Advise them of the technician's estimated arrival time.
DO NOT attempt to open elevator doors or any car-top doors. Wait for help to arrive. You can put yourself or passengers in severe peril if you attempt to remove passengers yourself.
Other Emergency Situations
Fires
Elevators should never be used during a fire except for firefighters or other specially trained people. The building stairways should be used as the exit route for people who may be in the building during a fire emergency.
Earthquakes
In many earthquake prone areas of the country, local codes require special earthquake features on elevator systems. These may include seismic switches which detect movement and shut down the elevator.
Tips for Users
Mobility is an essential requirement of the world in which we live and work. Schindler elevators, escalators and services are engineered to provide urban mobility that’s efficient and sustainable.
Here we provide tips on how to use escalators and elevators comfortably and safely.
Elevator Tips
Nowadays elevators come in all shapes and sizes, and travel at all various levels of speed. Please find a handy list of tips to know to when using an elevator.
- Watch your step – the elevator car may not be perfectly level with the floor.
- Stand clear of the doors.
- Keep clothes and carry-ons away from the opening.
- Hold children and pets firmly.
- Passengers nearest to the doors should move first when the car arrives.
- Never try to stop a closing door, wait for the next car.
- Push and hold the DOOR OPEN button if doors need to be held open, or ask someone to push the button for you.
- Pay attention to the floor indications.
- If the doors do not open when the elevator stops, push the DOOR OPEN button.
In the event of an Elevator Emergency
- If the elevator should ever stop between floors, do not panic. There is plenty of air in the elevator.
- Never climb out of a stalled elevator.
- Use the ALARM or HELP button, the telephone or the intercom to call for assistance.
- Above all, wait for qualified help to arrive and never try to leave an elevator that has not stopped normally.
- Emergency lighting will come on in the event of a power failure.
Escalator Tips
Riding an escalator can be fun. Here are some simple tips on how best to use an escalator safely.
- Watch the direction of the moving step and step on and off with extra care.
- Take care if you are wearing bifocals or similar eyewear.
- Hold children firmly with one arm or hold child’s free hand.
- Hold small packages firmly in one hand, but always leave one hand available to hold the handrail.
- Do not go in the opposite direction of the escalator.
- Do not take wheelchairs, electric scooters, strollers, hand carts, luggage carts or similar items on the escalator.
- When riding escalators: Keep loose clothing clear of steps and sides.
- Wear closed-toed and hard-soled shoes, and avoid wearing footwear made of soft-resin or other rubbery materials.
- Stand clear of the sides of the escalator.
- Face forward and keep firm grip on the handrail. Reposition your hand slowly if the handrail moves ahead or behind the steps.
- Don’t climb onto or ride the handrail.
- Do not let children sit on steps or stand too close to sides.
- When exiting escalators: Don't hesitate and step off promptly.
- Make sure to step over the comb fingers; don’t let your feet slide off the end of the escalator.
- Immediately move clear of the escalator exit area; don't stop to talk or look around since other passengers may be behind you.
Just for Kids
Wide, shiny bright steps that move. Thick rubber handles. Sides that you can see yourself in. A moving playground? No, an escalator. A child can make a game out of almost anything and escalators are no exception. Although you know that an escalator is not a toy, many children do not. Following these simple guidelines will make the ride more pleasant and safe for children.
Kids and Elevators
The rules for riding elevators are about the same for kids as they are for adults.
It's a good idea for children to be especially careful around the doors. Kids should never put their hands or feet into the area between the moving door and the adjacent door jamb.
Kids should never to try to stop a closing door by putting their hand or foot in its path.
Kids on Escalators
When riding with a small child, hold his or her hand, or carry the child in one arm while holding the handrail with the other. Help children step onto and off of the escalator.
- Do not allow children to sit on escalator steps - clothing or fingers can get caught.
- Never let children ride on or play with the handrail.
- Don't allow children to use an escalator unattended.
- Don't allow children to walk or run up the "down" escalator or down the "up" escalator.
- Don't let children drag their feet along an escalator's sides. No matter how tempting it is to make that distinctive "squeaky noise," a child's foot can become caught between the step and the side panel, causing serious injury.
- Never take a stroller on an escalator. Use the elevator instead.