Standardisation of elevators

Multi-storeyed and high-rise buildings are now being constructed in the big cities. These are driven by the extreme necessity to accommodate more people through minimising horizontal expansions as well as utilising space-efficient strategy. Moreover, it is envisaged that this trend would spread to other cities in the near future.
Lifts are part and parcel of multi-storeyed buildings.  Accordingly, safety aspects of lift in this country deserve more attention. Moreover, the safety issue of a lift is as crucial as the safety concern of a building construction. There are furores from all quarters over safety issues of a building; but ruefully nobody has yet pointed out this vital issue. As such, there has been a frequent occurrence of getting stuck inside a lift. There will be hardly anyone found who did not have the experience of being stuck in the elevator. Tearing of lift-chords has resulted in killing of its occupants in some cases.
The condition of lifts in general, even the lifts of hospitals, is not safe where every minute is very important for saving patients' lives.  Now people do not feel safe even inside their own buildings. This is a man-made unsafe condition.
Though lifts, made by renowned manufacturers with worldwide reputation, serve developed countries with reputation, why should it not give similar services in Bangladesh? It appears the lifts imported by Bangladeshi traders do not undergo 'quality checks'. That is why they are cheaper. Regretfully moral value has been eroded in our country. Everyone is looking for maximising profit. Of course there are exceptions. This proposition is more pertinent for land developers, because a significant number among them constructs low-quality buildings and install low-quality lifts disregarding safety concerns of the users. Every appliance has a service life; after expiring that, it must be replaced or thoroughly overhauled. Is there any rule in this country for safe use of lifts?
Lifts are more risky instruments than many other appliances because no occupant could assess its condition from inside. Moreover, power outages are the most common feature in this country. Consequently, installations of self-activated generators are crucial for safety of the occupants. As such, installation of self-activated generators should be made mandatory.
Currently serving non-self-activated generators should be replaced. In addition to that, faulty lifts in the market/storehouse should be confiscated. Importers should be dealt with exemplary punishment to deter the recurrence of such incidents. In the developed world, such crucial issues are harshly dealt with. The Bangladesh government should make appropriate rule to address these issues.
Monitoring and condition assessments of presently serving lifts are also important. The government may consider employing private agencies for monitoring and condition assessments of lifts that are currently in use. A rejected lift could easily be passed off as a new or reconditioned one with some refurbishment and paintings. Only lift engineer or qualified technician can assess its real condition. Lift engineers are rare in this country. Consequently, outcomes are not satisfactory in many cases.
The government needs to appoint qualified people to ensure import of world-standard lifts. The cost expenditure may also be shared by lift importers. Moreover, the overall safety assurance, guarantee and insurance modality should also be introduced.
The writer is traffic-cum-road             safety engineer [email protected]