Technical Center Team Makes Elevators Safer

By Jason McGlynn

Elevator open call box

Have you ever thought about what you would do if you got stuck in an elevator? Suppose there was a phone in the elevator, but you were unable to pull the call box door open to get to the phone due to your physical disability. This is what happened to me a few months ago. When I was finally rescued, I alerted security, my boss, and Sam Wilson, the Program Coordinator for People with Disabilities. This is when the real work began, and many people from different organizations came together to solve the problem.

Mike Dawson, COTR for maintenance of the elevators (the Center Operations & Maintenance Services (COMS) contract), was sent to resolve the issue. Although the phone worked, Mike had trouble opening the call box not only because the handle on the cover was small and difficult to grasp but also because it was difficult to even pull the door open. He soon realized that the call box handles on all 17 elevators on base were not compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Small handled call box displayed

In an effort to make the elevators ADA compliant, Mike recalled the Viking call boxes that were in use where he used to work. The call boxes required a user to push a single button to call the security dispatcher. Mike asked Jim Lasch, the COMS contractors’ Automated Security Specialist, to see if the technology could be used to resolve the elevator issue. Frank Seman, Manager, Facility Services Infrastructure Team, assigned Chuck Hathaway to work on the ADA infrastructure issue; and Adrienne Calderone, to work on the communication requirements.

Once Jim Lasch identified several options for ADA compliant call boxes and Chuck Hathaway researched current ADA compliance, elevator warranties, applicable codes, etc., a decision was made to purchase 17 call boxes for the elevators. Chuck did some thorough fieldwork, came up with a scope of work, and obtained a government estimate. Chuck and Jim decided on a model that was both cost-effective and dependable. Though the 17 call boxes were purchased, there was a long lead-time for manufacturing and delivery because they were a specialty item.

Emergency phone call box with call button

Paul Lawrence from the safety office and Sam Wilson were kept abreast of the developments. In the meantime, all employees with disabilities were given an operational two-way radio to carry with them in the event of an emergency.

Once the materials arrived, the elevators had to be shut down so that the call boxes could be installed. Additional materials would be required to modify the different types of elevators we have at the Center. Because the phone technicians, the metal shop personnel, and the fire inspectors had to be available for the installations, much coordination was required. Since the project began in April, five elevators have been completed and tested. The project will continue until all 17 elevators are done.

Thanks go out to: Sam Wilson, Frank Seman, Adrienne Calderone, Chuck Hathaway, Paul Lawrence, Shelia Franklin-Smallwood, Jim Vena, Hank Webber, Steve Anderson, Jim Lasch, Barry Lewin, and Al Schwegel for all of their efforts.