Elevator Radio Show Podcast

I’d have to say that the only good thing to have come out of the Covid-19 and the shut downs is that I believe, based on the lack of internet articles, the number of elevator and escalator accidents has decreased.  That is up until this week.  There were two worker/construction related which requires a reality check about the dangers involved with the work we do each day.  We cannot ever lose sight of this!

It’s been a tough week in and around the City of Chicago.  Today’s show has nothing to do with elevators or escalators. My heart hurts and is angry for many reasons.  Many of which don’t really make sense to me.  I do my best to convey these on the program today but realize I’ll most likely offend some people or whatever I try to say might easily be taken out of context. I’m not looking for a fight, I’m simply looking for the looting and destruction to end.  To my friends, family who are first responders, I support you. I am by your side, you are not alone. Be safe out there and look out for your loved ones.  

I forgot what day or week it was since we started down this pandemic path as it continues to be a blur most days.  I find myself feeling like it is ground hog day every day I roll out of bed. I am very thankful that our company is open during this time, our employees able to work but it’s getting more difficult as this goes on.  Over the weekend I commented about the job one of our state representatives was doing to “keep us all safe” and the question pointed back to me was what would you have done different? I was caught off guard by this question but appreciated being asked it. I had never thought about it what I would have done differently.  I’ll share my response on today’s show. News/Article Links: Elevators and will the pandemic change them? A rough estimate for a hypothetical elevator scenario An uneven Curve Flattening The wonderful world of semantics Elevators could thwart office re-entry State guidelines to limit elevator capacity to 4 due to Covid-19 TX Requirements Getting read

While much of our attention continues to engross us in this pandemic I want all of us to think this Monday about those who fought and lost their lives for our country and gave the ultimate sacrifice. We have the “freedoms” we hold so close to our hearts today because of them.  Please take a moment to think of a loved one, a friend you might have lost while they were serving our country during war or peacetime. Remember and share stories of these hero’s and their sacrifices. Keep the memories of those who have died fresh and share those stories with our younger generations. We can never repay the ultimate sacrifice they gave but we make sure we never to forget them. On Monday, as well as every day, lets remember and think about something much more important than this pandemic, our fallen Hero’s. News/Article Links: Can you catch the corona virus from riding in an elevator Some notes about Covid-19 Elevators are a claustrophobic coronavirus nightmare How smart city planning could slow future pandemics Changes

As the coronavirus dominates every aspect of our lives today as well as what we hear on the news or read online I was reminded last night while having dinner with my boys something very important which I’m going to share on the show today.  As each of our states attempt to put in place plans to reopen some look to be doing as good a job as can be expected while others are struggling to create one that has actual measurable goals. Hang in there, this is long from over and keep doing what you’ve been doing to keep yourself, your coworkers and your families safe. A little common sense should go along way.   News/Article Links:   Thyssenkrupp sees coronavirus cash squeeze despite elevator sale   Otis – Florence Factory confirms COVID-19 Case   Tentative date for elevator repairs set at county office building   Social distancing in elevators   VTE shares enhanced A17.1-2019 table of contents   Old article but terrible headline

Terrible news out of Oklahoma today as news was shared of work place fatality involving an elevator mechanic. Even in today’s fear induced Coronavirus/Covid-19 world we cannot forget the steps needed to ensure those working, inspecting and riding on elevators, escalators and moving walkways are safe. These dangers will never change and we must not loose sight of this! The potential dangers inside an elevator shaft can’t even begin to compare to Covid-19 and we cannot forget it! While each of us worries about washing our hands, wearing a face mask and other significant ways to keep our coworkers and families safe the reality is that their are probably many more ways you could die during the course of the day after rolling out of bed than if you were sick with Covid-19. If we spent the same amount of effort, money and time on safety we would be safer because of it.  Do we need to be scared out of our minds to get to this point? It sure seems so. So take a step back, take a mile step back, and look at all

Thanks for all the well wishes for my mom, they are greatly appreciated more than you know. This week’s show has a lot of article links which talk about elevators, the coronavirus as they relate and other pieces from experts or should I say columnists who share advice that should be common sense. When did we lose our ability to apply common sense to situations which affect our health and well-being? Why is it so difficult to comprehend the importance of sanitation and our keeping the bad stuff we cannot see from making us sick? I’m frustrated as a father, a son, and business owner. Thanks for letting me share these thoughts with you. They may be way off base and I’m no expert but I’m not seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.  Stay safe everyone.   News/Article Links: Coronavirus FAQ’s: How Risky Is An Elevator Ride? Walmart customer uses pepper spray on others boarding elevator NYCHA Housing Elevator Problems Advice on how to live responsibly during this pandemic? And here it comes, social distancing in

The last two shows I’ve been struggling with what I’m going to be talking about. I wake up each day, and for a moment think to myself that everything is normal, life is good, then realize that Covid-19 is not a dream and we’re all living this nightmare together.  I continue to watch our Governor’s and the Whitehouse daily press briefing each day hoping for a glimpse of optimism that will allow us all to get back to our own normal lives. But despite the numbers, the flattening of the curve, that day seems so far out of sight.  Hang in there my friends, as an industry we’re going to struggle through this together.  Keep yourself safe, keep your family safe. Thank you for listening and allowing me to share and vent with you. I hope it brings some comfort in knowing that while we each may feel alone or helpless during this pandemic we are not. Good show today, one that I’m proud to have produced for you.

As optimistic as I’m attempting to seem it’s getting more difficult every day to see a light at the end of the tunnel. I’ll share more on this during the show today.  Continue to keep you and your family safe by washing your hands and sanitizing commonly touched work areas and make sure not to touch your eyes, ears or mouth unless your hands are clean.  This will help you stay healthy against all the bad stuff out there, not just Covid-19.  Some other advice I’d like to share is stay away from Facebook and the toxic posts you see out there. The news is just as bad. If you want to see what your governor or the Corona Virus Task Force has to share watch those briefings each day and form your own conclusion. The media rarely covers the entire briefing unfortunately.  The year off from this show has taught me that there are so many people out there who share information like they are experts when they aren’t. The media twists and turns and pounds home whatever they can to gain their viewing/subscriber base. The i

The equipment has been dusted off, powered back on and I’m back.  Today’s show, after taking eleven months off, comes full circle with the feeling and inspiration I felt when I recorded the first Elevator Radio Show podcast back in December 2005.  I have so many of you to thank for this.  I’ll be sharing the perspective from a company that manufactures elevator equipment on the steps we’ve taken along with just my thoughts on this entire pandemic. The goal here is to provide all of you, a place to come each week as we all do our best to get through this cluster. I care deeply for our industry, all who work in it and the safety of people who touch it every day. This virus is going to shift the way human beings interact forever as well as our industry.  Please be careful as you venture out into the world and practice the steps outlined by the CDC to keep yourself healthy. Wash hands as often as you can with soap and water for 20 mins. Don’t touch any of your body openings with your hands.  The virus must enter

This is the first show I’ve done where there were more than one “I-Team” type investigative report on expired elevator certificates. In the years I’ve been creating this podcast, never have any of them truly attempted to address or get to the bottom of the reason why. My question to you I-Team, reporter….look deeper into the numbers.  Find out the budget for the elevator inspection department, the number of inspectors the department has and the number of elevators that require inspections annually.  Go a step further and ask how long an inspection should take on average and plug those numbers into a spreadsheet.  After you’ve done this ask whether or not the funding allocated, the number of inspectors employed and the number of elevators, escalators, moving walkways and dumbwaiters that require inspections annually can be done based on the time and number of inspectors there are to do it. Do the numbers confirm that there’s adequate funding and employed inspectors to complete the number of inspections that a

Today’s program has a little bit of everything. What surprised me was the number of accidents reported as they related to the general riding public and/or workers that use elevators for work.  Many of which had me simply scratching my head wondering the true cause for each of them.  In addition, I’ll cover the upcoming calendar of events and share my hopes that Spring will soon be here. Show Notes: DC firefighters hoist students out of elevator at Kennedy Center Elevators undergo $1M in renovations TKE to upgrade two elevators at Cobb County gov building Supreme Court hears case of woman fined, arrested for not holding escalator rail ESD signage in the UK BC housing knew about elevator issues Man in mobility scooter falls three floors in Toronto Veterans get elevator for VFW Four injured after man falls over on escalator Snake removed from elevator ceiling Woman injured in elevator accident Elevator access solution released Broke escalator adds to Southern Cross chaos Man on cargo cart dies in elevator accide

This is one of those shows where one unexpected article link, had me thinking about recalls and elevators and escalators as they related to the CPSC.  After reading and sharing one listed below, I got to thinking about the question of whether there were other recalls out there as they related that I hadn’t seen and decided to do some quick digging.  What I found was a little concerning.  I need to fully disclose my day job involves many things but manufacturing and selling door interlocks and mechanical door switches for freight/passenger elevators.  We are not, however a player in the residential elevator market. Also, I’m not an expert when it comes to residential elevators nor anything for tha matter so take what I say with a grain of salt.  With all of this out of the way I ask one simple question on the show today which is a good one. Show Notes: Cambridge Elevating recalls home elevators due to fall hazard Other recalls affecting “elevator” equipment Plastic Residential Door Latches? Residential Elevato

I was hoping it would be a show without covering any accidents, but this week is not the week to be.  In addition, you can ask your coworkers if they know what a “RIOT” button does in an elevator.  In Sacrament someone thought it would be a good idea to add them to some of their governmental elevators.  It’s also our Prize Pack Giveaway show which is my favorite of the month.  Special thanks to Colley Elevator and Codedataplate.com for providing $25 gift cards for it.  Work safe out there. Prize Pack Giveaway – Thanks To the Following Prize Pack Giveaway Donors! C.J. Anderson & Company, Colley Elevator Company, Codedataplate.com,  The National Association of Elevator Safety Authorities, The Elevator Escalator Safety Foundation, Truxes, EMS Group, Elevator Bob’s Elevator Pictures, Minnesota Elevator, ElevatorU.org, Elevator World Magazine, NAEC, Elevator Cab Renovations, Parts Specialists Inc, Elevatormanstories.com, Elevator Riders Riding Club, Peelle, The pQEI Inspection App & Maxton Manufacturing Sh

We’ve got a good show for you today. There are at least three articles that should be the talk around the office cooler, weekly safety toolbox talks or any other opportunity you have to chat with your coworkers about. In the end each all come down to safety.  And on a non-elevator related note it’s the first day of Spring today for those of us in the Northern Hemisphere. Let’s hope Mother Nature is done sending snow and cold our way.

I was truly moved at the number of you who emailed me the news regarding the fatality in ND.  While an investigation it still pending initial reports indicate he was electrocuted while servicing an escalator.  Every time I read one of these articles my heart sinks and I feel like my words fall on deaf ears.  Your emails, sharing the news of this tragedy, helped me realize that safety is a priority to so many of you which I find a small amount of comfort in. Keep Josh Bosch, his family especially his wife and two daughters in your thoughts and prayers.

It’s one of those shows where there aren’t a lot of stories to cover but the ones I do and the thoughts I share should be ones everyone contemplates both in your office and out in the field.  We’re talking about liability, safety and at what point is it okay to fire a customer or lockout/tag out an elevator when you deem it to be unsafe or when elevator/building owners choose to ignore recommendations for upgrades/improvements and simply just want to spend as little money as possible on getting them back running again. Prize Pack Giveaway – Thanks To the Following Prize Pack Giveaway Donors! C.J. Anderson & Company, Colley Elevator Company, Codedataplate.com,  The National Association of Elevator Safety Authorities, The Elevator Escalator Safety Foundation, Truxes, EMS Group, Elevator Bob’s Elevator Pictures, Minnesota Elevator, ElevatorU.org, Elevator World Magazine, NAEC, Elevator Cab Renovations, Parts Specialists Inc, Elevatormanstories.com, Elevator Riders Riding Club, Peelle, The pQEI Inspection App

Thank you to everyone who shared the .pdf report last week.  I received many emails, texts and phone calls regarding the show and while I do not think I did it justice I truly hope some of the information I shared sinks in with any one and every one who reads it.  Most importantly share it with your coworkers, talk about the statistics, how can some of those accidents or fatalities be reduced?  Each of us has a part in the work we do and ensuring those around us are safe and it doesn’t take much for it all to go south. Continue to talk about the report and  never let it die.  Lastly, no matter what you ever think you’re not alone when it comes to promoting safety but it sure feels good when you find someone else who shares the same concerns you do.

On today’s show we focus on one thing and one thing only, a report released by CPWR | The Center for Construction Research and Training focusing solely on Death and Injuries involving elevators or escalators in construction and the general population.  How dangerous is it working on or around this type of equipment? You may have had an idea before, but the numbers will confirm what many of us already knew, it’s dangerous. The statistical data in the report share some pretty concerning numbers. Sadly, the answers to why some are as high as they are is not clear. One thing is for certain, we each need to do our part make sure we’re safe as well as those around us. Please share this report/link with as many coworkers as you can. This is the first report I’ve ever seen on accident statistics ever published for the general public. Thanks for preparing it CPWR. Show Notes: Deaths and Injuries Involving Elevators or Escalators in Construction and the General Population Report – 2013-2016 Elevator Escalator Safet

Today’s show includes two-construction worker fatalities, one in FL the other in UT. In addition, an interesting piece covers elevators in the New York Housing Authority.  These locations are some of the toughest for building systems anywhere. Almost on the same level as transit systems.  The headline photo itself pretty much paints the picture of the issues shared in the article.  Work safe out there everyone. Visit www.cjanderson.com for complete show notes.