Uplifting Elevator Safety Awareness Together

The Elevator Safety Run conducted at BIEC during Smart Lift & Mobility (SLM) World 2024 witnessed substantial participation, achieving its affirmed objective.

On the morning of March 2, more than 1,500 participants, comprising members of the elevator and escalator industry, elevator buyers, local organizations, students and fitness enthusiasts, ran across three organized formats embodying the goal of “Uplifting Elevator Safety Awareness Together” and marking a monumental milestone.

The lack of awareness about elevator safety is indeed cause for concern. The topic has been discussed and debated in various forums. However, like every important cause, this one, too, needed a high-impact event that serves as a global awakening and sends out a clear message worldwide.

The question is, who will take the lead? Who will have the courage to stick their neck out and be the first to take on the hazards involved with being a pioneer? Who will do the research, the groundwork and believe strongly enough to invest in a game-changer idea and take it from concept to creation? It requires a combination of experience and expertise, industry-wide connection and understanding, a commitment to also raise industry benchmarks and quality levels, creating a comprehensive platform that also encompasses aspects like enhancing safety and simultaneously increasing awareness among all stakeholders.

While conceptualizing SLM World 2024, we felt it was essential to also highlight this aspect in an experiential manner. The Elevator Safety Run was, therefore, envisaged by us as a global-first initiative that emphasizes the paramount importance of elevator safety. 

Those present at the venue on March 2 were awestruck at the sight of more than 1,500 enthusiasts of all ages gathered with the objective of “Uplifting Elevator Safety Awareness Together.”

Enthusiasts who wanted to participate in this endeavor, including the exhibitors at SLM World 2024, were provided the option to cover a distance of their choosing for enjoyment, as per their physical capabilities, while professional runners could choose to compete in the 5K and 10K race categories at the Bangalore International Exhibition Centre (BIEC) campus, all under the supervision of trained medical staff with warm-up and cool-down sessions.

The first three men and women to complete the 5K and 10K race categories received cash prizes and medals, making for a total of 12 winners. The 5K race cash prizes were Rs. 8,000, Rs. 6,000 and Rs. 4,000, whereas the 10K race cash prizes were Rs. 10,000, Rs. 7,000 and Rs. 5,000. All participants received certificates and goodie bags, breakfast and beverages along with t-shirts and caps. The runners, comprising groups and individuals, were jubilant at marking such a monumental milestone.

Those who wanted to show their solidarity with the cause could join us virtually, and we had participants from Germany, China, Russia, Italy, Türkiye, the U.S. and many other countries who utilized this format with a dedicated app.

It was evident that the cause of elevator safety had received its due importance. Every stride taken by each participant was a victory in itself because the impact was felt worldwide, as publications and social media were abuzz with the news of this triumph.     

It is our belief that greater awareness holds the key to minimizing elevator-related incidents. In the contemporary landscape, elevators and mobility solutions have evolved into indispensable elements propelling real estate and infrastructure development. These devices, utilized by millions each day, seamlessly facilitate the movement of people within buildings, enhancing convenience and efficiency. Consequently, ensuring the safety of these products is of utmost significance.

The Elevator Safety Run fulfilled its objective of promoting increased awareness among all users regarding the safe usage of elevators and advocating best practices within the industry. Simultaneously, it also conveyed the fact that the vertical-transportation (VT) industry of India is committed to accomplishing this goal. It showcased the dedication of the VT industry and its stakeholders who are committing to delivering high-quality products to prevent accidents; manufacturers, buyers and users will be uniting collectively to enhance the safety of elevator and mobility solutions.

We are grateful to Otis, TK Elevator and Torin Drive for partnering with us in this endeavor and enabling its success. Acknowledged as VT industry event pioneers, Virgo Communications & Exhibitions has been receiving numerous accolades for unifying all stakeholders in the pursuit of zero accidents on this dedicated platform.

Going forward, the emphasis will also be on encouraging regulation and compliance by advocating for mandatory safety regulations across all states. This is just the first step; we have many more such initiatives for promoting a culture of ongoing innovation within the industry, urging continuous advancements in smart and preventive technologies while always highlighting the underlying message of ensuring elevator safety.

Exhibiting a Commitment to Safety

TK Elevator conveyed in a statement to the media that it is “proud to be a lead partner of  SLM World 2024 Elevator Safety Run,” exhibiting its commitment to safety and affirming that safety is an integral part of the company’s core values and organizational culture, along with the fact that participation in the Elevator Safety Run shows TK Elevator’s dedication to promoting safety awareness among the users of elevators and other vertical-mobility solutions. Manish Mehan, CEO and managing director of TK Elevator India, said, “Our participation in the Elevator Safety Run reaffirms our corporate responsibility to the safety of all our stakeholders, including our customers, employees and subcontractors.”