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.
At the end of each day, we want employees to return home safely. We work hard to continuously improve safety within Schindler.
Safety for each one of our customers and employees is first and foremost.
Our behavior-based safety training
Being aware of potential risks and how to avoid and mitigate them are key elements of being safe on the job. In comprehensive behavior-based safety trainings Schindler promotes a sophisticated safety culture amongst all employees. We also conduct management-led safety jobsite visits and training sessions, on-the-job pre-task risk assessments by supervisors and technicians to build an incident free culture.
Emergency situations
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.
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.
Before you call 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.
Get your brochures
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Extreme weather protection | Schindler South Africa
Preparing your elevators and escalators for extreme weathers brochure
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Emergency Operation of Elevator Systems
A helpful guide for establishing emergency operations criteria
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 on 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.
Ideas for building owners & managers
- Keep an eye out for unsafe riding practices (by kids or adults) and take action to avoid accidents.
- Don't place things adjacent to the escalators that will attract children.
Elevator tips
- 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.
- Push and hold the DOOR OPEN button if doors need to be held open, or ask someone to push the button for you.
- Never try to stop a closing door, wait for the next car.
- 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
- 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.
- Grasp the handle as you step onto the moving step.
- 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.