Amid the ongoing global health crises, building owners and property managers should be taking steps to ensure the safety of their elevator systems.
These safety considerations are designed to keep everyone within the building safe as well as to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Enforce Social Distancing
It is to be expected that even during a pandemic, residents will need to access an elevator to reach their apartments. It will not be possible for all residents to use the stairs, although this can be encouraged for certain people to prevent the congregation of multiple occupants within the same elevator.
All residents must understand that only one person should use an elevator at one time. The exception to this rule is when members of the same household are using the elevator together.
Ensure that the guidelines for elevator use are displayed around the building so that all residents are able to see this information every day.
Additionally, you should request that all residents wear a face-covering in the elevator, even if they are traveling alone. This may help to reduce transmission rates.
Ensure All Elevators Are Working
If you have multiple elevators within the building for which you are responsible, then ensuring they are all functioning can help with adherence to coronavirus safety regulations.
Not having to wait a long time for the next elevator will encourage residents to adhere to social distancing guidelines.
You may also find that due to decreased foot traffic through the building, that now is a good opportunity to undertake essential maintenance on one elevator at a time.
It is easy to book a safety inspection through ATIS for your elevator maintenance. Doing so can help you to ensure you are adhering to safety regulations and also to know that all of your elevators are fully functional.
Keep All Elevators Clean and Safe
Taking extra precautions to keep your elevators clean and safe will help to protect residents and limit the potential spread of the virus.
Consider adding an antimicrobial layer to any touch surfaces within an elevator to inhibit the transmission of bacteria. If possible, you may wish to implement touch-free technology to go one step further in keeping everyone safe.
Providing hand sanitizer at the entrance to the elevators is a good way to encourage residents to take responsibility for their own health and hygiene.
Taking Responsibility for Elevator Safety
The whole world is working together to overcome the coronavirus pandemic, and it is important that elevators remain safe places for use during this time.
If you are in charge of the operation of elevators within a building, then taking the aforementioned simple steps to keep people safe is paramount.
These are not likely to be permanent restrictions, and you will be able to return to a normal level of functioning once the pandemic has passed. For now, work to keep the occupants of your building safe by encouraging everyone to follow the guidelines.
