Manually Operated Elevator Has Denver Tower Residents Concerned

Residents of a nine-story Denver, Colorado, apartment tower are concerned that the elevator in their building is being manually operated by a technician standing on top of the unit, 9 News is among outlets to report. A printed sign in the elevator reads, “Please knock and tell them what floor you are at.” A Denver Fire Department spokesperson said the process has been approved to keep the elevator operational while repairs are underway. Fire code allows a certified technician to manually operate an elevator in cases like this, the spokesperson said. Residents, meanwhile, said what they have been experiencing over the past few weeks is “scary,” with passengers having to look down to make sure the unit is level with the floor and they “don’t step off and fall.” A top-floor resident noted that if the technician experienced a medical emergency, the situation could become far more serious. “Then, it’s out of control and the elevator could fall and drop with passengers” inside, she said. The Denver Housing Authority, which operates the building, had no timeline for repairs.