Elevating Devices
Annual State of Safety 2023
State of Safety: Elevating Devices
We oversee the safety of elevators, escalators, moving walkways, dumbwaiters, lifts, and construction hoists in accordance with the Safety Standards Act and the Elevating Devices Safety Regulation.
In 2023, we saw an increase of incidents and injuries in the elevating devices technology. As British Columbians continue to return to work and increase participation in public activities, elevating devices like escalators and elevators are being used again. The number of incidents and injuries is proportional to the rise of escalator and elevator usage back to pre-pandemic levels.
Safety Order Issued for MCE iControl and Motion 4000 Drive Failures
Elevators use a combination of controllers and resistors to handle electricity generated during braking. Over the years, we have found many incidents where electrical components within certain controllers can overheat.
This incident shows the premature failure of an insulated-gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) in the power module of an affected controller caused regenerative power to feedback in an uncontrolled manner to dynamic breaking resistors (DBRs). This causes the DBRs to overheat, resulting in controller fires.
To prevent the premature failure of IGBTs in affected controllers, a safety order was issued in December of 2023. This safety order provides actions not only to prevent premature failure but to monitor the DBR circuits to ensure continuous power flowing to the DBR can be detected and power can be removed
Incidents
Sixty-one incidents were reported to us in 2023, a 49% increase compared to the previous year. Most of the incidents were ranked as “insignificant” (24) or “minor” (20). Thirteen incidents were ranked as “moderate” and three were ranked as “major.” Almost all of these incidents involved slips, trips, falls, cuts, and pinching from closing doors with varying severity. One incident was “under assessment” as it was still under investigation at year end.
Elevating Device Incidents by Year (2019 - 2023)
Injuries
In 2023, 47 injuries were reported in the elevating devices technology, a 135% increase compared with 2022. This increase may be due to the return to escalator and elevator usage levels of pre-pandemic times as British Columbians continue to return to work and visit public spaces. Compared to decreased usage during the pandemic, elevators and escalators in office buildings, malls, and high-rise residential complexes are experiencing busy ridership again.
We receive injury reports and descriptions from operators or first responders at the time of, or immediately following, the incident. Injuries may develop after the initial reports were made to us and the long-term effects of a resultant injury may not be recorded as part of our investigation
Elevating Device Injuries by Year (2019 - 2023)
Permits
In 2023, we issued 2,006 installation permits and saw 28,353 active operating permits in the elevating devices technology. The number of installation permits increased by 18% while the number of operating permits increased by 3%. According to Statistics Canada, there was a 26% increase of multi-unit family dwellings, such as condominiums and apartments. The increase of installation permits may have been due to such buildings requiring elevator installations.
Elevating Device Installation Permits by Year (2019-2023)
Elevating Device Operating Permits by Year (2019-2023)
Assessments
Our safety officers completed 3,184 assessments in 2023 which represents a 4% increase compared to 2022. Of this total, 2,691 were in-person assessments and 493 were remote assessments.
The results of in-person assessments included: 1,007 “conditional pass,” 1,381 “passed,” and 303 “failed." The results of remote assessments included: 4 “conditional pass,” 459 “passed,” and 30 “failed.”
Learn more about how we define these assessment outcomes.