Haryana Government Prioritizes Public Safety in Lifts

Most state governments in India have so far responded mediocrely to the problem of lift passenger safety, except for the government of Haryana, which has exhibited foresight and demonstrated that it is the duty of every administration to adopt measures to safeguard the safety of the population, newsx reported in India. It just updated the “Haryana Lifts and Escalators Act, 2008,” ahead of other states. Since the Act has changed, owners of high-rise structures (those over 15 m in height) are required to install Emergency Rescue Devices (ERD) in their elevators, preventing accidents brought on by passengers becoming stranded. The “Haryana Lifts and Escalators (Amendment) Act, 2020” amends the current Haryana Lifts and Escalators Act, 2008, changing its name. Commercial facilities, like hotels, malls, hospitals, etc., can improve the comfort of their customers by giving them a jerk-free operation by installing ERD devices in lifts. ERD is a strong backup system that, in contrast to Automatic Rescue Device (ARD), does not halt the lift in the event of a power outage. The lift’s power source — ERD or grid — is completely unknown to the occupants, who arrive at their destinations without interruption or terrifying jerks. Depending on the ERD, backup can be provided for a minimum of 15 min and up to two days. With this new law, owners can now be held accountable for lift accidents.