Escalator Safety

Escalators and moving walks are extremely safe, but a little know-how goes a long way. Whether you’re dashing to work, treasure-hunting in the mall, or hurrying to your next class, here are some tips to keep you riding safely and confidently. Take Action. Think Safe.

Stay Safe!

Did You Know? There are thousands of escalators and moving walks taking people one step further to their destination point. When it comes to incidents, most escalator injuries are the result of unsafe behaviour such as riders: 

  • Not paying attention 
  • Using strollers 
  • Playing around, or 
  • Being overloaded with luggage and bags.
Staying Safe on Escalators and Moving Walks

Staying Safe on Escalators and Moving Walks

  • Before getting on, familiarize yourself with the location of the escalator’s emergency stop buttons.
  • Step on and off with care.
    Stand in the centre of the step, not right next to the railing.
  • Always hold onto the handrail.
  • Keep loose clothing or accessories away from the steps and sides. Make sure your shoelaces are not untied or dangling. 
  • Keep handbags, knapsacks, shopping bags and parcels away from the handrails.
  • Never sit on the stairs or the railings. 
  • Don’t run up or down escalators, run up the wrong way, or slide down handrails.
  •  Don’t take strollers, walkers, luggage, animals, or carts on an escalator. Use an elevator instead. 
  • Avoid escalators and use an elevator if you have mobility or balance issues.
  • Never get on an escalator in bare feet. Be particularly careful when wearing flip-flops or open-toed shoes, which can become trapped in the escalator sides and exit plates.
  • Move away from exit areas quickly.

Staying Safe in an Emergency

If a rider falls or something gets caught in the machinery, hit the “STOP” button at the top or the bottom of the escalator or end of the moving walk. Wait for help. Call 911 if necessary.

Keeping Children Safe on Escalators and Moving Walks

Keeping Children Safe on Escalators and Moving Walks

  • When riding an escalator with your child, teach them to use it safely.
  • Pay extra attention to small children. Hold their hand and make sure they keep their fingers away from moving parts. If children are too small to hold onto the handrail, take an elevator instead. 
  • Never allow children to play on or near escalators or leave children unattended near escalators.  
  • Make sure children keep loose clothing, such as scarves or mitts, away from the edges of the escalator where they might get caught.
  • Never rest toys, backpacks, or shopping bags on an escalator step.
  • Have children step off the escalator as soon as they get to the end.

TSSA Keeps You Safe

Ontario’s Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA) regulates escalators and moving walks in Ontario to ensure all devices conform to the Act and applicable regulations, codes and standards.

TSSA oversees escalator safety in:

  • Offices, apartment and condominium buildings
  • Shopping malls
  • Hospitals
  • Retirement and long-term care facilities, and
  • Other commercial and industrial settings

We conduct design reviews, issue licences, perform risk assessments, conduct inspections, and license elevating device mechanics who perform installations, repairs, and maintenance.  

 

Reporting Safety Concerns

Report any accidents or concerns about the safety of an escalator to the building’s owner, operator or property manager.

If you see anything that appears unsafe, you may also report it to TSSA—24 hours a day, 7 days a week—by calling 1-877-682-8772. Choose Option 1 to be connected to our incident hotline (managed by the Ontario Ministry of Environment and Energy’s Spills Action Centre). You may also report an incident to TSSA by email at ed-incident@tssa.org.

If you witness an accident, call 911 and stay on the line to provide information about your exact location. 

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