Elevator Safety During Power Outages

The following tips and guidelines are designed to help elevator occupants and building managers/owners reduce the risk of elevator-related incidents during a power outage.

Elevator Occupants

• Never use an elevator during a power outage.
• Know where the stairs are in your building before an outage.
• Never use an elevator if the possibility of a rotating outage exists.

If you are stuck in an elevator during an outage

• Stay calm and don’t panic. Most elevators have telephones that connect directly to your building’s security, maintenance or elevator company.
• Remember that many elevators have back-up power that will bring the elevators to the first floor during a power outage.
• Do not open the doors to get out between floors or climb onto the roof of the elevator. Wait for emergency personnel to rescue you.
• Once you get off the elevator, do not get back on until the power has been fully restored.

Building Managers / Owners

• Routinely check all power sources, emergency lights, alarms, telephones and computer systems to insure that they will work properly during a power outage.
• Insure that elevator maintenance and inspections are up-to-date.
• When outages are likely, post signs at each elevator bank to limit use.