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BE SAFE WHEN YOU RIDE AN ESCALATOR

The east wing escalator at Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi seems to be jinxed. Barely a fortnight after it was commissioned again last month, a comb plate came out on Monday (July 3). In the incident, the handbag strap of a woman passenger was caught in the comb plate. She was able to pull out the strap but not before one of the comb plates of the escalator came out. Luckily for the passengers the safety device worked and the escalator stopped before any harm could be done to anyone.

The escalator in question was shut down in December (13 December 1999) when eight-year-old Jyotsana Jethani was crushed between its moving comb plates. The footplate of the escalator had come apart leaving a gaping hole into which young Jyotsana fell to her death.

Incidents like this are a dime a dozen in our country. We may pride ourselves on our various achievements but such incidents mar our image. The moot question as to why such incidents occur and who is responsible for them is for the authorities to answer. We can only make an attempt to educate the users of these modern aids on how to remain safe while using them.

Escalators are considered to be the safest form of transportation in the world. According to industry experts most accidents that occur on escalators can be prevented simply with education of the riding public. Many of we Indians have not yet adapted ourselves to these technological marvels.

In 1991 in United States of America, representatives of elevator and escalator industry got together to educate general public on safe use of escalators. They founded the Elevator Escalator Safety Foundation to educate the public on safe riding practices in order to help avoid accidents.

You and your family can be safe users of escalators by following these important safety tips:

When entering escalators:
 

• Watch the direction of the moving step.
• Step on and off with extra care. Take care if you are wearing bifocals.
• Hold children or small packages firmly in one hand.
• Grasp the handrail as you step promptly onto the moving step.
• Keep loose clothing clear of steps and sides.

• Keep to the right and face forward.
• Keep a firm grip on the handrail.
• Reposition your hand if the handrail moves ahead or behind the steps.
• Don't rest your handbag or parcels on the handrail.
• Don't window-shop while riding.
• Don't lean against the sides.

• Don't hesitate.
• Step off promptly.
• Move clear of the escalator exit area don't stop to talk or look around
• Other passengers may be behind you.

Some more safety tips:

Keep your child's feet away from the sides of the escalator. Their shoe could be pulled in. Make sure your child's feet are in the centre of the step.

Never allow your child to sit on the steps. Should you witness another person allowing this, please stop them. Never let your child play on the escalator.

Make sure your child holds the handrail. As long as your children can grasp the handrail without their feet touching the sides of the escalator it is safe. Holding the handrail will help insure they keep their balance and do not fall.

If they are too small to hold the handrail without their feet being too close to the side of the escalator, they should only ride holding your hand.

It is much safer for everyone if you take the elevator when you're using strollers, luggage, shopping carts or are overloaded with packages.

Passengers must be careful of loose clothing, untied and long shoelaces, high heels, long hair or jewellery, etc. These items can easily be caught in the comb plate at the top and bottom. Only safe way to ride is standing up, facing forward, holding the handrail with feet away from the sides.

Don't rest your handbag, parcels or body weight on the handrail. Putting too much weight on the rail may slow it down and pull you off balance. Hold on to the handrail gently until you are safely off the escalator. This is especially important for elderly people, whose sense of balance and depth perception are not strong.

Mechanical and maintenance faults apart, you can use these modern marvels very safely if you observe these safety precautions.