Three elevator malfunctions have occured in the past three weeks on the Homewood campus. On Monday, Nov. 19, a graduate student was trapped on the elevator in Barton Hall in the morning. A Johns Hopkins University employee was trapped on the elevator in Maryland Hall on Tuesday, Nov. 27 in the afternoon. On Thursday afternoon, Nov. 29, five students were trapped on the passenger elevator in Krieger Hall. In both the Barton Hall and the Maryland Hall elevators, people were trapped in the elevators because the elevator doors would not open.
Associate Director of Plant Operations Joseph Martin said, "When elevators are in operation for 14 to 15 hours a day, there are bound to be malfunctions."
There are about 50 to 60 elevators on campus. Martin explained that every elevator has its share of problems from time to time. He said, "Whenever you have any kind of mechanical apparatus, it tends to malfunction."
Every elevator on campus has an emergency phone, as required by the state. Other elevators may have an emergency button as well. If people are trapped in an elevator, they can use the emergency phone, which is directly connected to the University's Security Department. Between the hours of 8 a.m.- 5 p.m., during the day, the Department of Plant Operations sends its elevator maintenance personnel to address any problems with elevators. During the night, the Security Department handles all elevator malfunctions. In either case, technicians from KONE Inc., the elevator maintenance company that works with the University and maintains the elevators on campus, assesses the elevator malfunctions and makes repairs.
In cases where the doors of the elevators are not working, an emergency key is needed to open the doors and free anyone inside the elevator. It takes several minutes to respond to emergency phone calls. It usually takes about two to three minutes for elevator technicians to free any trapped passengers in the elevator.
Martin explained that there are a number of possible reasons for an elevator malfunction.
"Sometimes it is the software that runs the elevator that may need to be upgraded. Other times, it may be a blown fuse - or simply something stuck in the elevator door tracks that prevent the door from opening."
When an elevator on campus malfunctions, it is immediately returned to full operating capacity. All of the elevators that malfunctioned in the past three weeks are now properly functioning. Elevators are only repaired as needed. There is a state requirement that all elevators must pass through annual inspections.
There have been several other elevator malfunctions since the beginning of the school year. On Oct. 12, an employee was trapped in an elevator in Clark Hall and a student was trapped in an elevator in Wolman Hall. On Sept. 20, two passengers were trapped in an elevator in the Homewood Apartments. On Sept. 10, six students were stuck in an elevator in McCoy Hall and on Sept. 9, six students were also stuck in an elevator in McCoy Hall.
Martin said, "There is no chronic problem such as one elevator breaking down three or four times. There is a maintenance staff on hand to repair elevators if there was such a problem - I would make sure that a mechanic was sent to make a full assessment of the situation.
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