By Cassidy Grom | Echo
The Echo recently discovered that the annual operating certificates on four campus elevators were expired. No certificate was posted in the elevator in the Euler Atrium.
An annual operating certificate proves that a elevator contractor has checked the elevator and ensured it is safe to use. If the Indiana Department of Homeland Security (IDHS) discovered violations of their code-including not posting a current certificate-Taylor could face fines of up to $250 per day per violation.
According to John Erickson, director of public affairs for the IDHS, contractors check components such as emergency stops, two-way communications, elevator rails and emergency recalls.
"Without a regular inspection, potentially harmful component malfunctions may occur which could have been prevented," Erickson said.
The Echo emailed Taylor maintenance supervisor Scott Bragg to ask about the elevators in Nussbaum, Metcalf and Sickler and a wheelchair lift in Ayres. Each device had a certificate posted, but the certificates were expired. As of Wednesday, The Ayres lift's certificate expired 1,223 days ago. Nussbaum's elevator operating certificate expired 77 days ago, Metcalf's 178 days ago and Sickler's two days ago.
According to Bragg, he visited each of those locations after receiving The Echo's email. He said the employee in charge of maintenance in Metcalf forgot to post the new certificate and students had taken the most recent certificate off the lift in Ayres, leaving an outdated one. Bragg posted the most recent certificate in Metcalf and Ayres. As for Nussbaum and Sickler, Bragg scheduled an inspection for Tuesday.
Depending on the severity of the situation, IDHS can choose to impose sanctions including shutting down the elevator or fining the elevator owner.
Bragg said he would do a better job of checking the elevators. "I knew the fine was there, I just didn't know how much it costs," he said.
The elevator in Breuninger Hall also had an expired certificate as of Thursday. It expired in August of this year. "Well, it's probably not the safest idea," junior Breuninger resident Mark Allsman said. "But nothing bad has happened yet."
