http://www.straitstimes.com/premium/forum-letters/story/any-steps-taken-ensure-lift-safety-20131219
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I was terrified when the lift travelled from Basement 1 to the eighth floor in a matter of seconds.
When it hit the roof of the lift shaft, a large marble slab fell on my left arm, narrowly missing my head. My left shoulder was dislocated as a result.
I sought to understand how a lift's multiple safety features could all fail at the same time.
My husband contacted the Building and Construction Authority (BCA), and learnt that it was not aware of the incident as building managements are not required to report lift accidents.
The BCA also said it was waiting for the investigation report from the lift company, and that it would not be sharing the findings with me or the public.
Only upon further probing did it agree to share the findings with me, but it could not give me a definite date as it would depend on when the lift company submitted its report.
There have been at least three other lift accidents in the last 19 months, one of which was fatal.
Thousands of people use lifts every day in Singapore, and ensuring their safety is crucial.
It is in the public interest to know what caused these accidents. I have the following questions for the BCA:
Does it carry out independent checks, on top of the annual inspections done by the maintenance companies, before lift certificates are issued?
For serious lift accidents, does the BCA conduct its own investigation into the causes, including immediate on-site checks?
Under what circumstances would it be mandatory for building managements to report lift accidents to the BCA?
Is it in the public interest that the causes of lift accidents be publicised, as well as the steps taken to ensure safety?
Fera Wirawan (Ms)
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