People are worried when many elevators do not ensure safety.

Expired, no inspection stamp

ApartmentBong Sen, Quang Trung Ward (Vinh City) has 22 floors with more than 100 households. Although the population is quite large, the entire apartment building only has 2 elevators, making it very inconvenient for residents to move around. During rush hour, many people have to queue to get into the elevator or accept walking because the wait is too long.

The elevator at Bong Sen apartment building is old and does not have an inspection stamp. Photo: QA

During the elevator's operation, there were many problems that could be felt such as shaking, creaking, and at times no signal was received, causing many people to worry. It is worth mentioning that, according to the reporter's observation, both elevators of this apartment building did not have the required inspection stamp.

Discussing this issue, Mr. Trinh Dinh Thanh - Head of the Bong Sen Apartment Management Board said: "The elevator of the apartment building has been in operation for 10 years, so deterioration is inevitable. In fact, we have a plan to upgrade and repair the elevator, but the cost is too high to implement it yet."

Mr. Thanh said that the building management board has also contacted the workers to regularly inspect the elevator to ensure safety for residents. However, when the reporter asked why the elevator was inspected but did not have the inspection stamp according to standards, Mr. Thanh could not explain.

Not only at Bong Sen apartment building, but in fact at many high-rise buildings in Vinh city, there is no inspection stamp or there is a stamp but the inspection time has expired, there is no information. For example, at Kim Truong Thi apartment building, Truong Thi ward, the elevator in building B has an inspection stamp but no date. At Muong Thanh Cua Dong Hotel, the inspection date is December 8, 2016 and is valid until December 8, 2020. Up to now, the inspection has been overdue for 2 years but has not been re-inspected...

The elevator at building B, Kim Truong Thi apartment building, Truong Thi ward no longer has the date (left) and the elevator at Muong Thanh Cua Dong Hotel is past the inspection deadline (right). Photo: QA

Most recently, at an apartment building in Ben Thuy ward, Vinh city, there was a free fall incident that left many people "heart-stopping". Although all the people in the cabin were rescued in time, the residents were still afraid and did not dare to enter the elevator. When checking, it was discovered that the elevator was past its inspection date.

Afterwards, the building management contacted the authorities to inspect and repair the elevator. However, many people asked, if there was no incident, when would the elevator be inspected to ensure safety for the people?

Must be periodically inspected

According to Circular No. 36/2019/TT-BLDTBXH of the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs, elevators are on the list of equipment, machinery, materials and substances with strict requirements on safety and labor hygiene. This equipment must be inspected according to State regulations to ensure absolute safety for users.

The inspection period is clearly specified in the National Technical Regulation on occupational safety for elevators issued by the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs. For elevators with a usage period of less than 10 years: The periodic inspection period is 3 years. For elevators with a usage period of more than 10 years: The periodic inspection period is 2 years. For elevators with a usage period of more than 20 years: The periodic inspection period is 1 year.

Many elevators in Vinh City are overloaded during rush hour. Photo: QA

A representative of the Nghe An Technical Center for Standards, Metrology and Quality said that Vinh City and Cua Lo Town are the two localities with the largest number of elevators in Nghe An province. On average, the Center inspects about 10 elevators in the area each month, but there are still many elevators that have expired inspection and have not been inspected or handled.

Mr. Nguyen Dinh Hung - Director of Nghe An Center for Technical Standards, Measurement and Quality said: Elevators must be inspected in the following cases: Before being put into use and after complete installation; Periodic inspection after the previous inspection period has expired; Unusual inspection due to the user or unit doubting the quality and safety of the elevator or requested by a competent authority. Each type of elevator has a different technical safety inspection process, but the inspection process will include basic steps such as: Checking records and equipment history; External technical inspection; Checking load testing modes and processing inspection results. After a successful inspection, the elevator will be publicly affixed with an inspection stamp so that building management boards and people using the elevator know.

Workers of Nghe An Technical Center for Standards, Metrology and Quality inspect elevators in the area. Photo: QA

In fact, the inspection of elevators to ensure safety in Nghe An still has many shortcomings. Many building, hotel and apartment owners have not really paid attention to this issue; when incidents such as elevator falls, getting stuck, no signal, etc. occur, they contact the authorities for handling. Therefore, the authorities and local governments need to strengthen inspection and strictly handle building owners who do not conduct periodic elevator inspections to ensure safety for elevator users.