City Cites Company for Safety Error in Fatal Madison Avenue Elevator Accident

Workers from an elevator servicing company, who were tasked with maintaining elevators at a Madison Avenue building, failed to follow the most basic safety procedures during repairs, a two-month city investigation has determined. According to a news report in The Wall Street Journal, the building was the site of the fatal elevator accident that occurred on December 14, 2011. Suzanne Hart, a 41-year-old executive at Young & Rubicam, was crushed to death after the elevator she was boarding suddenly lurched up and trapped her in the shaft. Two other people in the elevator were treated for distress. Following the probe, the city has suspended the license of Transel Elevators Inc. and is seeking to permanently revoke it.
A report by the city Department of Buildings and Department of Investigation determined that the Transel workers had bypassed a safety circuit the morning of the accident. Although it is accepted practice to disable the safety switch during maintenance work, the system, which prevents the elevator from traveling when the doors are open, is to be activated after the job. Transel failed to notify the city about the repair work and did not have the elevators inspected by the city before putting them back in service. The company also failed to warn visitors to the building that the maintenance work was in progress.
City officials say that it was a clear failure on the part of these workers and their supervisors to follow the most basic safety procedures. Tragically, their negligence cost this woman her life. The results of the investigation have been turned over to the Manhattan district attorney’s office, which could file criminal charges. The city has issued 23 violations, which amount to $117,000 in fines for Transel.
Elevator maintenance companies have the responsibility to exercise due care and caution. When they are on the job, workers are required to use caution tape to warn visitors to the building. They are required to follow safety procedures that are in place to ensure everyone’s safety. Blatant violations, as had occurred in this case, are inexcusable. Families of deceased elevator accident victims can hold negligent companies accountable by filing a wrongful death claim seeking compensation for lost wages and benefits, medical expenses and funeral costs, pain and suffering, etc.
If you or a loved one has been injured in an elevator accident, the experienced New York personal injury lawyers with the Law Offices of Kenneth A. Wilhelm can help you better understand your legal rights and options. Our law firm recovered $3,000,000 for a man who fell and suffered two broken legs when he walked into an open elevator shaft. Please call our offices at 1-800-WORK-4-YOU (1-800-967-5496). We can also help with personal injury cases in New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, or Florida. If you have been seriously injured in any of the 50 U.S. states, please call us and we will try to help you with your case.
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Source: The Wall Street Journal