Elevator Inspection Needs Improvement

The up and down issues of inspecting the safety of elevators in the state has increased according to a report prepared by the State Auditor’s Office.

                A backlog of elevator inspections has increased since a 2010 audit, even though the Department of Public Safety has hired more inspectors, the report indicated.

                The report found that as of October 10, 2012, 14,211 elevators have been operating with expired inspection certificates or about 36 percent of the total number registered with the state.

                In addition more than 1,700 of the certificates have been expired for more than four years, even though state law requires elevators to be inspected annually.

                The non-compliance rate is not acceptable. This is a public safety issue that needs more attention and a better success rate.

                Reportedly, a spokesperson for the Department of Public Safety had no comment on State Auditor Suzanne Bump’s report that revealed a serious problem that needs to be addressed immediately.