Safety Tips for Escalator Passengers

For some people, using an escalator is a part of everyday life. You may have used an escalator hundreds or thousands of times before, but this does not mean that accidents cannot happen. Some accidents are out of your control. For example, if there is a malfunction with the escalator, you could get injured and it wouldn’t be your fault. However, there are other types of injuries that could be prevented if you are paying attention and following good practices. Here, I will discuss some basic safety tips to keep you and your family safe while using an escalator.

Getting On and Off the Escalator

A large portion of injuries that occur on escalators happen when people are getting on or off of these devices. When you are getting on an escalator, make sure that you are entering single file. If there are a lot of people getting on, don’t try to cut people or get on at the same time as someone else. This could cause you or another person to lose their balance and fall. Simply wait your turn and make sure that you have enough time and space to safely get on the escalator.

Another simple thing to keep in mind is that you know which direction the escalator is going in. Make sure that you look at the direction that other people are traveling, how the stairs are moving, or any signs that indicate the direction of the escalator. This might seem simple, but some people do get confused and try to get on an escalator moving in the wrong direction.

When stepping on or off an escalator, make sure that you watch your step. Even if you use escalators frequently, you don’t want to get caught on the stairs or trip. Simply watching where you are going can prevent this issue.

When disembarking from an escalator, it is also a good idea to watch your step and move quickly. You don’t want to back up the line for the people behind you. But at the same time, you want to maintain good balance. Prepare yourself to disembark, watch where you are going, and try to move away from the escalator quickly so that you don’t impede others.

While On an Escalator

While riding on an escalator, there are a few things to keep in mind. First of all, it is always a good idea to hold on to the hand rails next to you to prevent falling. Even if you have good balance, someone else could bump into you and cause an accident. To prevent this, just hold onto the handrail. Also consider the type of escalator that you are riding on. Some escalators are small and do not allow passing. But other escalators are wide and allow two lanes of traffic – one for people who want to stand, and one for people who want to walk. Make sure that you are in the correct lane so that you don’t create traffic on the escalator.

Getting Help

These are just some basic tips to help you avoid an injury on an escalator. But, if you do face an injury because of an escalator accident, you can contact my office for more information. We are happy to help.