Elevator accident: Stakeholders call for review of safety commission law

Following the tragic elevator accident, which claimed the life of a medical doctor, Dr. Vwaere Daiso, at the General Hospital, Odan, Lagos-Island recently, facility management experts are calling for the review of the law establishing the Lagos State Safety Commission to cover the motoring, installation and maintenance of elevators popularly known as lift, in all public and private buildings  above four floors across the state.

Speaking with the Nigerian Tribune  when interviewed on Sunday  in Lagos, the Managing Director / Chief Executive Officer, Fame Oyster and Co. Nigeria, Mr. Olufemi Oyedele, said the review of the law has become imperative in order to  ensure that installation  and maintenance programmes for elevators are covered by the law.

He blamed the recent elevator’s accident in Lagos on lack of maintenance economy in Nigeria.

Apart from the insiders, Oyedele, who is also an estate surveyor and valuer, said there supposed to be external maintenance officer that will come around to check the period the lift was due for maintenance.

“In the inner compactment of some of these elevators, there is a part where they put a card that stipulates when they are to be maintained. People must know the date. Here we don’t have officers to maintain the lift.

“Besides, there is supposed to be an external officer, possibly government’s representative in charge of ensuring that  lifts are in good condition so that they don’t become death traps,” he said

What happened last week, according to him, was not a natural disaster  as it could be predicted.

“You don’t have to wait until there’s faults before you maintain facility,” he said.

Oyedele called on property owners and managers to have a routine account for maintenance of their  building facilities.

Going forward, the President of, International Facility Management Association (IFMA), Nigeria chapter, Mr. Lekan Akinwunmi, said there should a standard code for all buildings  with elevators.

He added that there should also be the presence of an operator.

According to him, there must be maintenance framework for all the functions of all facilities in buildings, noting that maintenance could be routine or preventive.

He disclosed that IFMA has been clamouring for safety in buildings, suggesting that any building above four floors that has elevator must has a check list to ensure safety of occupants.

“The standard is that somebody supposed to be the operator, depending on the size of the elevator

“There is supposed to be a kind of checks in the morning, looking at the condition of the elevator and change in  sound on daily basis to ensure it is okay for service,” he said

If not good for service, he said the facility  should be shut down, while calling  the service provider or  installer to look at it.

Akinwunmi blamed the accidental elevator on lack of maintenance, pointing out that the lift must have been given signs of distress which the management of the hospital ignored.

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