Elevator Safety Concerns Rise in Providence

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Emergency responders working to ensure elevator safety in Providence.

News Summary

Recent incidents in Providence have raised serious concerns over elevator safety, following two separate events where individuals were trapped. Eight people were rescued from an elevator at the Graduate Hotel, and another group was trapped during a power outage at Providence Place Mall. Investigations revealed many elevators lack proper safety certifications, prompting scrutiny over state inspection practices. With a small number of inspectors responsible for thousands of elevators, officials are urged to address the issues to enhance public safety. No fatalities or serious injuries have been reported in past elevator emergencies in the city.

Providence – Concerns over elevator safety have intensified following two recent incidents involving trapped individuals. On Saturday afternoon at the Graduate Hotel in Downtown Providence, eight people were rescued after being stuck in an elevator. Firefighters conducted the evacuation around 4:00 PM, and the city spokesperson confirmed that all individuals were safely removed without any injuries. This event surfaced amidst heightened scrutiny regarding elevator inspections and safety protocols in the region.

Earlier in the week, on Tuesday evening, Providence Place Mall was evacuated due to a fire report. The evacuation began at approximately 6:45 PM, with patrons allowed back inside shortly before 7:18 PM, although alarms continued to sound during the re-entry. Fire trucks were dispatched to both sides of Francis Street adjacent to the mall, but the specific cause of the alarm was not determined at the time.

The urgency surrounding elevator safety is underscored by a widespread power outage that affected Providence on Thursday night due to a cable failure under South Main Street. This incident resulted in approximately 6,300 customers losing power, impacting several substations, including Providence Place Mall. During this outage, four individuals were trapped in an elevator; they were rescued within 20 minutes as power was restored. At the time of the outage, between 250 to 350 people were present in the mall.

Following the power failure, reports indicated that while the mall had a generator, it failed to activate, leading to confusion and panic among some patrons. Employees assisted customers in navigating the darkened mall using flashlights and the stairs. Fire crews needed to inspect each of the mall’s 25 elevators to ensure no one was stuck after the power loss.

In light of these incidents, concerns have arisen regarding the inspection practices of elevators in Rhode Island. An investigation revealed that most elevators, including the ones at Providence Place, are not inspected by state officials but by companies that install and maintain them, creating a conflict of interest. Rhode Island is home to approximately 4,100 elevators, yet only two state inspectors are responsible for examining newly installed or modernized elevators.

Reports highlighted that many of the elevators at Providence Place Mall lacked valid safety certificates, with six elevators showing expired stickers dating back to 2014. Out of 47 elevators at the mall, only 12 were compliant with safety standards, while 33 were operating without the necessary certifications. The mall’s management has been given until December 18 to rectify or contest these violations, with civil penalties of $1,000 per day per violation for non-compliance.

On-site assessments indicated the presence of several code violations in different elevators, although specific details regarding these violations were not publicly disclosed. The Providence Fire Department noted that it responded to 628 elevator emergencies over the past three years, with 72 calls coming from Providence Place Mall and 55 from Rhode Island Hospital. The majority of elevator issues stem from frequent use and aging equipment; however, it is noteworthy that no fatalities or serious injuries have been reported from elevator emergencies in Providence over the past 31 years.

As the investigation into elevator safety continues, city officials are expected to address the identified issues and work towards improving the inspection process to ensure the safety of all individuals using elevators in Providence.