Safety Advisor Calls for New Layer to Elevate Inspection System

After 720 elevators were found lacking fire-resistant door frame components, Maxine Yao, a member of the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department’s lifts and escalators safety advisory committee, has called for improvements in the city's three-tier inspection system. Yao suggests adding an independent third-party inspection to ensure public safety, following the recent discoveries. The department is also proposing to expand the digital video and photographic log-book system to cover lift upgrades and replacements, a proactive move Yao supports.

An elevator-safety expert has called for improvements to Hong Kong's three-tier inspection process, following the discovery that 720 lifts installed by Taizoom Elevator lacked fire-resistant door frame components. Maxine Yao, a member of the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department's lifts and escalators safety advisory committee, expressed concern during an RTHK radio program, stating that the current system, though effective, could be strengthened with an additional step to enhance public safety. Under the existing three-tier system, a registered lift contractor performs a self-inspection, a registered engineer conducts a thorough examination, and the department's engineers conduct a re-inspection and functional testing. This expert argued that the integrity-based approach, while working well, could be bolstered with an independent third-party inspection in one of the tiers. The department has proposed expanding the digital video and photographic log-book system, used for recording work details, to cover lift upgrades and replacements. Maxine Yao welcomed this initiative, seeing it as a proactive plan to address public demand. She emphasized that the system upgrade should be completed before the end of the year to prevent future incidents.

The reliance on an integrity-based system for elevator inspections has been a longstanding issue in Hong Kong. Elevator safety is of paramount concern for the city's eight million residents, and the proposed changes aim to address the gaps identified after Taizoom Elevator's violations. By introducing a new layer in the inspection process, the city hopes to increase accountability and ensure that safety standards are maintained. This reform represents a step forward in the ongoing effort to protect the public and maintain the reliability of Hong Kong's elevator safety system.

Safety experts and relevant authorities continue to monitor the effectiveness of the new measures. Public demand for transparency and robust safety standards is likely to drive further enhancements in the inspection system, aiming to eliminate potential risks in the city's elevators. As the upgrade process progresses, stakeholders will be closely watching to ensure that the new system fulfills its intended purpose of enhancing public safety.