Safety watchdog wants Thunder Bay Housing elevator fixed
Elevator at Royal Edward Arms likely had problems before woman fell down elevator shaft: TSSA
The agency that regulates elevator safety in Ontario has issued a series of orders to Thunder Bay Housing after a fatal accident last fall.
But, six months later, the elevator is still not back in service.
Last October, a 31-year-old woman died after falling down an elevator shaft at the Royal Edward Arms social housing building on May Street.
After the incident, the Technical Standards and Safety Authority — or TSSA — began an investigation and instructed Thunder Bay Housing to keep the elevator out of service until it implemented a series of "corrective measures."
In an email to CBC News, the safety authority said it found some issues of non-compliance that were most likely present prior to the tragedy.
The door to the emergency phone in the elevator was jammed and a number of light bulbs were either burnt out or not working.
The TSSA also ordered Thunder Bay Housing to securely fasten the false ceiling.
And, as a preventative measure, to ensure the elevator door cannot be forced open from the inside.
The safety authority said it must do a follow up inspection before the elevator is allowed to start running again.
In an email to CBC News on Thursday, the District of Thunder Bay Social Services Administration Board, which oversees Housing, said the work on the elevator is now complete and ready for testing and inspection.
Acting chief administrative officer Bill Bradica said repairs had been delayed because some parts were not available and had to be manufactured.
E-mail from TSSA in response to CBC News:
Following the incident last fall, TSSA issued a series of orders to the Thunder Bay District Housing Corporation to take a series of corrective measures.
Some of the measures include repairing damage that was caused during the incident and the subsequent rescue/recovery effort by emergency services such as:
- Repairing or replacing the basement and main floor landing doors.
- Investigate and eliminate the excessive gap between the 6th floor landing door panels when a horizontal force is applied.
Other corrective measures include addressing non-compliances that were most likely present prior to the incident such as:
- Ensuring all the lights in the elevator are working, a number of the bulbs were either burnt out or were not working.
- Securely fasten the false ceiling in the car.
- Fix the phone cabinet so the phone is accessible during an emergency; the cabinet door was jammed.
And, other measures are more preventative in nature such as:
- Installing a longer elevator apron.
- Ensuring the elevator door cannot be forced opened from the inside.