Industry-First Education Campaign Urges Home Elevator Safety
Industry coalition launches the homeSAFE Campaign to raise awareness of important safety measures in growing home elevator market
Chicago, Ill. – June 25, 2014 – In an effort to increase safety and reduce preventable injury, leaders from the home elevator industry today launched a new public education campaign, homeSAFE (Safety Awareness For Elevators), to help raise awareness about the safe installation, operation and maintenance of home elevators. The Campaign is supported by the Association of Members of the Accessibility Equipment Industry (AEMA), National Association of Elevator Contractors (NAEC), National Association of Elevator Safety Authorities International (NAESA International) and ThyssenKrupp Access Corp.
“Safety remains an industry-wide concern in the home elevator industry,” said John Sweeney, president of NAEC. “The homeSAFE Campaign fills a critical gap by uniting key leaders in the home elevator industry to take action and raise awareness with homeowners of the complexity and importance of safe home elevator installation, operation and maintenance.”
The home elevator market in the U.S. has grown significantly in the past decade, driven by an aging population and a lower cost of installation. Despite the rise in home elevator use, little information is available to help educate homeowners about how to safely install and maintain home elevators. The homeSAFE Campaign is designed to fill that void and make home elevator owners aware of critical safety criteria when installing or operating a home elevator. This includes home elevator installation standards, inspection requirements, regular maintenance, and safety precautions -- especially important when children may have access to a home elevator.
“The homeSAFE Campaign provides homeowners with the first industry-wide, comprehensive resource of home elevator safety information,” continued Sweeney. “Until now, much of this information was either scattered on various websites or not documented. Having information in one place helps homeowners easily find basic information about home elevator safety and smart practices. Simply, this allows them to assume greater control over their safety.”
The Campaign website, www.homesafecampaign.com, provides current and potential home elevator owners clear, easy-to-understand guides and tools to explain how home elevators operate and should be maintained. The web site includes safety tips and evaluation checklists, interactive diagrams and infographics, answers to frequently asked questions as well as resources for working with home elevator industry professionals such as home elevator dealers, inspectors and mechanics. The site also features downloadable information packets homeowners can share with family, friends and others in their communities.
“Homeowners should feel confident in the safety of their home elevators. Our goals are to raise awareness with homeowners as well as begin a dialogue around home elevator safety readiness with industry leaders,” said Jurrien van den Akker, president of ThyssenKrupp Access Corp. “A number of people and organizations support the many facets of home elevators – design, purchasing, installation, inspection and maintenance. We hope to provide a platform where experts can share their resources and help educate homeowners.”
The current homeSAFE Campaign partners reflect organizations supporting the home elevator production, inspection, sales and installation process. The homeSAFE Campaign partners include:
- Association of Members of the Accessibility Equipment Industry (AEMA), a non-profit organization formed in 1990 to meet the needs of the accessibility equipment manufacturers, distributors and end users
- National Association of Elevator Contractors (NAEC), an association of elevator contractors, suppliers of products and services and other industry professionals. Celebrating 65 years of service, the Association serves the interests of the industry by promoting safety in the elevator industry advocating excellence in the management of member companies.
- National Association of Elevator Safety Authorities International (NAESA International), a non-profit organization with nearly 2,500 members comprised of elevator inspectors, mechanics, consultants, contractors, architects, engineers, elevator manufacturers and others interested in elevator safety, code enforcement and technology.
- ThyssenKrupp Access, one of the leading suppliers for mobility solutions in homes. Its product portfolio includes stairlifts, platform lifts and home elevators. Even though it ceased operations in the United States, ThyssenKrupp Access Corp. is committed to educating the public on the safe use of home elevators.
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Diana Bell
+1-312-553-6703
diana.bell@fticonsulting.com
Christine DiBartolo
+1-312-553-6720
christine.dibartolo@fticonsulting.com
About homeSAFE (Safety Awareness For Elevators) Campaign
The homeSAFE (Safety Awareness For Elevators) Campaign is an industry-led initiative designed to increase home elevator awareness. The Campaign objectives include raising homeowner awareness about the safe use, installation and maintenance of home elevators; educating all industry groups responsible for home elevator installation and maintenance about the safety risks associated with faulty installation; and creating an easy-to-use, easy-to-find repository of home elevator safety education resources. To become a partner or get involved with the homeSAFE Campaign, visit the Campaign website, www.homesafecampaign.com.
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