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JICOSH Home > Case Studies > Case No.90
Case No.90

Caught between the cargo elevator cage and the floor
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[Description of the Accident]

This accident occurred in an elevator that ascends and descends between the second-floor laundry drying room and the first-floor room at the commercial laundry factory.

On the day of the accident, when the victim returned to the factory from making deliveries, three workers were carrying out overtime work. The victim began helping such work, and engaged in work to bring a cart full of wet laundry to the drying room on the second floor by elevator. When the victim was asked by another worker on the first floor to bring the elevator back down to the first floor, he pushed the Down button of the elevator switch on the second floor. As the cage door was half-open, however, the door became caught on the edge of the second floor and the elevator soon stopped.

When the victim who saw this situation tried to lower the elevator door into the elevator cage by hitting the door with his foot, his own weight pushed the upper part of his body inside the cage. As the elevator suddenly descended at this very moment, the victim's head was caught between the edge of the second floor and the ceiling of the elevator.


[Causes supposed]

1. No safety device was provided to prevent the elevator from operating even if the button is pushed unless the cage door is closed.

2. Inspections, maintenance, etc., were not carried out.

3. Safety education was not implemented.


[Type of business] Commercial laundry
[Caused by] Freight elevator
[Type of accident] Caught or trapped
[Number of victims] One fatality
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