The Spread of Coronavirus and the lift industry

Coronavirus and all viruses are on the minds of many. Lift-cars and lobbies are a very likely place where contamination could happen. How could and should the lift industry react to this challenge? Thoughts by John Gale.

Following a meeting in Switzerland and listening to the lengths that Schindler were having to implement to try and keep their employees in China, I was struck that lift-cars and lobbies were surely a very likely place where contamination could happen.

Also, high-rise buildings are like large cruise liners which have seen the infection of several people with the current coronavirus. Could and should we see these high-rise buildings placed in quarantine if a case of coronavirus is found within?

A lift by its very function sees many people in close proximity and evidently is a place where infection could occur. Should people use the stairs not the lifts or are the stairs just as bad?

Self-cleaning systems fitted

I well remember over the years lift companies have produced a few ideas that might reduce the risk of spreading infections, but these never seem to have been really developed or taken up by commercial developers and clients. Now could well be the time to consider this situation again as the virus strains are certainly becoming more aggressive and the possibilities of pandemics are now on the minds of many experts. In this current crisis thousands of people are in quarantine. All companies and organisations are being affected both directly and indirectly.

The Lift and escalator could and should take the lead and at the very least bring this issue up before clients and users. Just think of the push buttons in lifts that are touched by thousands of people per day. Should we all ware gloves before pressing the button? Do passengers wait for an empty lift-car so to avoid fellow passengers or should face masks be issued to all riding in a lift?

Handrails on escalators could have self-cleaning systems fitted but how many of these have been installed? Just consider the number of escalators and moving walkways in airports, shopping malls and railway stations, and the potential for contamination is enormous.

Raise awareness

The threat of this current virus may well go away, but it is only a matter of time before the next one will surely appear. The industry must in conjunction with users and clients ensure that engineering solutions and operational practices are in place to alleviate the next virus endemic.

With the next round of conferences and seminars about to take place it will be interesting to see what presentations regarding these biological attacks and counter measures are shown. I would suggest that we as an industry should certainly raise awareness and do not just let the issue fade away after the current threat disappear.

Thoughts from John Gale