Malaysian Task Force Addresses VT Safety

Malaysia’s Department of Occupational Health and Safety (DOSH) planned to have a task force in place by September focused on safe use of vertical-transportation (VT) equipment, Malay Mail Online reported. There were 51 accidents involving elevators and 33 involving escalators between 2012 and 2016, according to DOSH, with nearly all escalator mishaps due to children not being supervised. Work will begin in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor, with DOSH cooperating with related agencies like the Fire and Rescue Department and the Ministry of Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government. Properties with many units, such as shopping centers, office buildings and housing blocks, will be a particular focus, and DOSH has already urged that additional signage and audio messages be implemented.