Last month in Columbus, Ohio, a student at Ohio State University (OSU) suffocated to death while trying to escape an elevator that was stuck, bringing into question the safety of elevators on many campuses, including UB.
Eighteen-year-old Andrew Polakowski died in the elevator shaft, trapped between elevator doors and the third floor of a building. School officials say that the incident was probably caused by students testing the limits of the elevator -cramming in 24 people, thus exceeding its weight limit by at least one thousand pounds.
An abusive regard taken towards elevators is the main cause of elevator malfunctions, according to Joe Krakowiak, director of residence halls and apartments here at UB.
Krakowiak said that an elevator is like a tool and should be respected.
"When an elevator says it holds a certain amount of weight, don't add a thousand pounds more to it, like they did in Ohio," Krakowiak said.
After Polakowski's death, testing was done at Ohio State to reveal six more elevators failing an emergency break testing.
According to Don Erb, director of residential facilities, testing at UB is conducted annually by the National Elevator Inspection Service.
"We did have one elevator that had to be stopped from service and was closed for about five weeks," Krakowiak said. " It was rebuilt over the summer, due to age."
This elevator was located in Red Jacket, next to the dining hall.
"Sometimes it's better to rebuild, rather than repair them," Erb said. "We have 30 elevators in the residence halls and most of them are serviced for age."
According to UB school officials, the elevators are in solid, working order at this time. Many students, however, say that this is not always the case.
Sophomore psychology major Kenneth Cadmus recalls a time when he got stuck in an elevator in Ellicott.
"I've gotten stuck in the Spaulding elevator before and crawled out the same way because it was stuck between floors," Cadmus said. "I'm happy it didn't fall when I had to get out."
According to Krakowiak, such actions are dangerous, and often end in death or injury, as was the case in OSU. He also said that there have not been any fatalities aboard UB's residence halls elevators.
"I'm familiar with residence halls elevators from the past 15 years," Krakowiak said. "Not once in those 15 years have we had an elevator fatality."
According to Erb, the biggest problem facing UB in regards to elevators is not breakdowns, but vandalism.
"I see it, but it doesn't really bother me," said sophomore accounting major Greg Lombardi.
Erb believes that one way to prevent elevator problems from occurring is to simply let the elevators operate without interruption.
"When a door is closing on an elevator, you shouldn't put your hands in the opening," Erb said. "You should use the buttons in the car or let it close."
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
