Gyeonggi Province Holds Traveling Briefing Sessions on Elevator Safety Management

Gyeonggi Province will hold traveling briefing sessions targeting parties responsible for elevator management—including management offices, residents' representatives, and building management entities—to promote accident prevention and effective maintenance. The sessions will cover proper elevator usage methods, case studies of elevator accidents, and elevator management procedures.

Over eight days through the 29th, the province will conduct briefing sessions for approximately 2,000 people across eight regions: five in the southern area (Suwon, Seongnam, Bucheon, Anyang, and Ansan) and three in the northern area (Goyang, Uijeongbu, and Guri).

Following the development of new cities and the increasing height of buildings, the number of installed elevators has grown rapidly. Currently, 66,800 elevators are installed and operating throughout the province, accounting for 24 percent of the nation's 280,000 elevators.

An analysis of accident causes from 1993 to 2003 shows that accidents resulting from user negligence accounted for the highest share at 40.5 percent, followed by poor maintenance at 33.5 percent.

Elevators installed in apartment complexes can have reduced malfunctions when residents, aware that repair costs are borne by them, use the equipment according to proper procedures. In particular, when children run inside elevators or repeatedly press operational buttons, such actions lead to malfunction.

Additionally, when selecting maintenance contractors for elevator inspections and repairs, some management entities insist only on choosing the cheapest option available, which often results in poor maintenance and can lead to malfunctions or accidents.

A provincial official urged that "apartment residents' representatives and building management entities should deeply recognize the importance of elevator safety and take thorough precautions in elevator maintenance and accident prevention, leading the way in developing an elevator usage culture."

Inquiries: Gyeonggi Province Industry and Policy Division, 031-249-4653