City council wants stricter oversight for elevator technicians
Holding Image Credit: amNY
Buildings Commissioner Robert LiMandri said Monday he's supporting City Council legislation aimed at making elevators in the city safer.
Councilmen James Vacca (D-Bronx) and Peter Vallone Jr. (D-Astoria) plan to introduce bills Wednesday that would require new technicians working in the city to pass a licensing test, as well as requiring elevators to have additional safety features.
At a committee hearing Monday, council members were frustrated over the lack of oversight following recent accidents, including a Madison Avenue advertising executive who was crushed to death by an elevator last December. The city blamed the horrific fatality on a repairman's failure.
"We need to license people who work on a piece of equipment that literally holds your life in your hands," Vallone said.
Even so, total accidents were down 60% from 2007 to 2011, according to LiMandri. So far this year, there have been 12 accidents.
The Big Apple sees about two to five fatalities annually, LiMandri said.
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