The sad death of a student named Zeren Ertaş as a result of the elevator accident (!) at Aydın KYK Güzelhisar Girls’ Dormitory in the past weeks caused the safety problems of elevators in public living spaces, especially in KYK dormitories, to be brought to the agenda. Due to this and other elevator malfunctions that followed, one of the issues that everyone wonders is “Why is it not inspected? Who is to blame?” comes the question.
Although there are many claims about the disaster that deeply saddened Turkey, the accident in question (!) The reason is still unknown. Many students are in a difficult situation due to elevator malfunctions and accidents in KYK dormitories in many cities such as Çanakkale and Gebze, and they are forced to take their fears with them every time they board.
There are no detailed explanations regarding the safe use of elevators and from not informing the public Therefore, we asked an expert about this issue and got answers about what might have happened.
In the answers we received to the questions we asked to Ibrahim Mart, the former President of TMMOB Chamber of Mechanical Engineers Bursa Branch, we found that the main cause of elevator accidents was the lack of inspections or precautions not taken We see that it is.
All relevant parties, especially municipalities and building managers, must fulfill their responsibilities.
Municipalities; They are official institutions charged with the registration, licensing and periodic inspection of elevators. Especially due to the lack of adequate periodic inspection, the Ministry of Industry; elevator inspections, the process of improving existing elevators and bringing them into compliance with technical legislation a regulatory regulation took it out.
In accordance with the regulation, relevant municipalities outsource inspection work to different inspection organizations through protocols. İbrahim Mart argues that opening the controls, which should actually be public, to the market, element of competition He underlines what caused it to become what it is.
March: These inspections, which will have a primary impact on people’s life and property safety, are a public service and should not be left to the mercy of the market.
Municipalities, which are legally responsible for elevator inspections, outsource the inspection to other organizations, as we mentioned. While some elevators are inspected by TSE (Turkish Standards Institute) or TMMOB Chamber of Mechanical Engineers, that is, public institutions, in some cities these inspections are carried out. Private companies with profit motives It is done by.
İbrahim Mart gives an answer that is consistent with the statements made by TMMOB Chamber of Mechanical Engineers. Mart states that this should not be the case and states that municipalities should carry out annual periodic inspections of elevators within the district borders. outsourcing to non-profit organizations emphasizes the need.
İbrahim Mart also adds: Because of profit-oriented organizations service quality It may fall or accidents may occur due to improper inspections.
How are elevators maintained and inspected?
After the elevators are put into service, throughout their operation, Periodic maintenance once a year and maintenance once a month and comes under control. The main responsibility is actually the building managers and the companies that perform monthly maintenance.
There are various checks in elevators before they are used. The controls of the companies that produce and design elevators are carried out by approved organizations and Obtains a certificate of compliance with the legislation.
After the registration, municipalities are responsible for the elevators. registration and operating license gives. Municipalities not only issue licenses, but also undertake responsibilities regarding companies and building managers who will carry out periodic inspections.
İbrahim Mart also gave detailed information about how this process should actually work.
“The building manager is primarily responsible for keeping the elevator operating safely. Fulfilling the issues and deficiencies identified during the inspections; building managers and maintenance companies, in the final plan municipalities are responsible.
Managers, should not operate red-tagged elevators. In addition, if the elevator received a red tag in the second inspection, the elevator should be closed and ‘sealing’ “It is the duty of the relevant municipality.”
Why do accidents happen when it is clear by the regulations that everything must be done in such an orderly manner?
What everyone really wonders is “Why?” İbrahim Mart’s answer to the question stems from a reason that has happened to us many times: “neglect”.
Mart also adds the following to his statements: “Accidents” that lead to sad losses of life; deficiencies in engineering services, efforts to reduce costs, The low and insufficient quality of control-maintenance-repair is experienced due to neglect of the necessary aspects of the job (non-execution of inspection results, delay, etc.).
Will the elevator crash because one more person gets on a 15-passenger elevator?
The accident in Aydın KYK dormitory resulted in the death of Zeren Ertaş, who got stuck between the cabin and the stall door, and the injury of 15 students, as a result of 16 people getting on the elevator on the ground floor and the elevator door sliding down with the door open. In some statements made by the authorities after the accident, the reason was: “16 people getting on a 15-person elevator” was shown as.
“How can this elevator fall with only one person?” The question was everyone’s reaction to the statements. İbrahim Mart’s answer to our question on this issue amounts to negligence no matter how we look at it.
March: Inspected, showing slight defects blue label It is not possible for such an accident to occur in an elevator that is attached and manufactured and maintained in accordance with technical legislation.
The result of the investigation will be clear, but one of the possible reasons for such an event to occur is security sensor If the electronic sensor does not fulfill its function, the relevant information is required to operate the non-functioning elevator. is to disable the component. The person responsible for this is the one who does this job and the one who has it done.
A second possibility is that there are ropes, brakes, rails etc. in the elevator. a structural defect Maybe this is much more serious. These are manufacturer, notified body and inspection body errors.
A much sadder claim is that the elevator was out of service for almost a year. Even though it’s red tagged young people are forced to work at risk to their lives. This is only possible with the knowledge of the dormitory manager and if the municipality does not fulfill its duty. Because each inspection report is forwarded to the manager and the relevant municipality.
The accident that made you wish it hadn’t happened should set an example, and inspections need to be tightened.
The reason why no statement was made on the subject before the expert report, İbrahim Mart underlines what needs to happen. March; “Effectively elucidating the subject, informing the public and in order to prevent similar accidents, detailed information about all processes from design to inspection of the elevator where the incident occurred is provided. honest disclosure must.” says.
There are points emphasized by İbrahim Mart regarding what needs to happen next. “This incident is caused by the maintenance services of elevators subject to public and intensive use, by qualified technical personnel showed once again that it should be carried out. It should be ensured that the personnel required to work in maintenance companies are trained and certified by MMO (Chamber of Mechanical Engineers) and that technical managers are employed full-time.
Engineers performing inspections in inspection institutions are trained and certified by MMO. These engineers full time employment must be ensured and this issue must be controlled. In addition, authorized companies and companies that perform maintenance on elevators qualifications of its employees It also needs to be reviewed.”
Not only the authorities but also the building managers need to pay attention.
On the occurrence of accidents as a result of situations that need to be done but are ignored by many people. March: Ensuring that elevators operate safely and are “available” Building managers who are primarily responsible for It should immediately address the deficiencies detected as a result of the inspection of public elevators, especially public elevators, and prevent the use of elevators in a way that may create danger (red tag, deliberately disabling or deactivating a safety feature, wrong interventions on the equipment, etc.).
İbrahim Mart also draws attention to the seriousness of operating “red tag” elevators in Aydın and Çanakkale KYK dormitories for a long time. Municipalities must stop the operation of elevators that are particularly dangerous and have red labels, and sealing He adds that it is necessary.
As a result of İbrahim Mart’s statements and other accidents, we understand that elevator controls are authorized and carried out in accordance with scientific technical principles, standards and regulations, without profit, with the understanding of public service and public inspection. It should be done by expert engineer staff.
Strict inspection should be carried out throughout all dormitories.
Another issue that is a mystery and why it still continues is that after the incident in Aydın, Elevator malfunctions and accidents in dormitories The news keeps coming.
In order to avoid sad news, we hope that all necessary precautions will be taken and young people will be safe. multi-storey like a “hotel” Do not take the elevator in dormitories with “forced” It doesn’t hurt because he stays.
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