When property managers dismiss elevator safety concerns

I was at a site yesterday where the manager told me to just 'quiet the noise' instead of fixing the real issue. The guide rails were way out of spec, but he didn't want to spend the money. I showed him the wear marks and explained the risk of a sudden stop. He just said to lubricate it and send the bill. Now I'm stuck between doing my job right and losing a client. It's frustrating when people don't get how serious this can be.

3 comments

3 Comments

the_jennifer2mo ago

Got a story from a friend in construction. His client brushed off elevator noise, saying to just oil it. A week later, the elevator jammed between floors.

kaib862mo ago

My uncle manages apartment buildings and says that's classic. People ignore the weird grinding sound until it's too late. He had a tenant complain about a "humming" elevator for months. Turned out a cable was fraying. They caught it just before it snapped.

the_leo2mo ago

Come on, how bad can a little rail wear really be? Half the time it's just dirt buildup or a loose bolt they overreact about. I've seen elevators run for years with specs slightly off. Unless it's actually shaking or stopping short, calling it a "sudden stop risk" seems like fear mongering. Then again, I guess if the wear is deep, you might have a point.