In the world of vertical mobility, elevators and escalators are the veins of modern infrastructure - moving people and materials through high-rise, malls, transit hubs, hospitals, hotels and corporate towers. Yet, while their engineering and performance often receive attention, one fundamental aspect is too often ignored: housekeeping.
We clean our homes, maintain our vehicles, and sanitize public spaces. But why do we neglect the very systems that move millions daily?
At Heelag Elevator and Escalator Consultancy, we've seen it time and again - spotless building lobbies leading to dusty, neglected machine rooms, hoistway, car top-bottom, car cabin or pits filled with debris. This isn't just an eyesore - it's a safety hazard, a compliance red flag, and most tellingly, a question mark over maintenance quality.
⚠️When safety equipment is covered in dust or surrounded by garbage, the question arises - are these systems truly being maintained during service visits?
This blog explores why cleanliness is not cosmetic, but critical - and why service providers must be held accountable.
Housekeeping = Safety
Whether it's a discarded wrapper on an escalator step or oil spills in a machine room, debris in pit, poor housekeeping can result in real, immediate dangers:
- Slip and trip hazards
- Blocked sensors causing door malfunctions
- Fire risks from flammable materials stored in machine rooms and pit
For passengers, these risks may lead to accidents or entrapments. For technicians, they translate into unsafe working conditions where even a simple maintenance visit can turn risky.
.🤔 If a technician works in a dirty, disorganized space, how can we trust a proper maintenance was done at all?
In such cases, blame can not lie solely with building management. Service providers have a duty to correct unsafe conditions during their visits. Ignoring such mess is a failure in itself.
Housekeeping Reflects the Quality of Maintenance
A clean machine room, hoistway, pit and all equipments area a sign of a responsible thorough service team. On the other hand, dusty equipment, oil leaks, or visible cobwebs raise questions:
- Was a proper maintenance ever done?
- Are logbooks being updated?
- Is preventive maintenance just a tick-box exercise?
When our auditors walk into a site and see clutter, it's often the first clue that maintenance is superficial or rushed.
And on the client's side, allowing unauthorized storage or letting building staff treat machine rooms like storerooms sends the message: this system doesn't matter to us.
Both sides must share responsibility - because neglect anywhere leads to failure everywhere.
Codes, Inspections & Legal Liability
Most national and international elevator safety codes include housekeeping as part of maintenance standards. Why? Because cleanliness directly affects:
- Access to safety components
- Accuracy of inspection and testing
- Fire safety and electrical safety
- Longevity of moving parts
Dirty or obstructed machine rooms are grounded for failed maintenance, fines, or shutdown notices. And in case of an accident, pictures of a messy equipment room can become legal liabilities - especially if it shows neglect by both the technician and the facility owner.
Technicians Deserve Safe, Functional Spaces
Too often, machine room, hoistway, pit are neglected simply because "nobody sees them". But those rooms are workplaces for trained, certified professional. They must navigate tight spaces, rotate motors, test brakes, and operate live electrical panels.
When those environments are cluttered, dark or dirty:
- Hazards increase
- Work gets delayed
- Issues go undetected
It's not enough to demand better performance from technicians. We must also give them better conditions to work in.
And equally, technicians must leave spaces clean, just as a good mechanic wouldn't leave your engine greasy or littered after a service.
The Silent Indicators: What Dirty Equipment Tells You
During our Third Party Audits, the conditions of the machine room, pit, shaft, and car top tells us more than the service log ever could.
A few examples:
- Dust and debris covered sensors, machine, controller, overspeed governor, safety gear, car equipments, landing doors etc - often mean no functional check was done.
- Cluttered pit and pit equipments with debris - raise questions about emergency access
- Unlabeled, leaking oil cans - point to maintenance negligence
🚨 If your elevator machine room looks untouched for months, chances are the checklist was filled - not followed.
This is why service providers must stop overlooking housekeeping. It's not just about how clean something looks. It's about what it says.
Escalators: The Most Exposed, Yet Most Ignored
Escalators are in public view - yet ironically, get the least attention when it comes to housekeeping. We've seen escalator tracks packed with wrappers, oil on steps/pallets, combs clogged with mud, and handrails sticky with grime.
Not only does this make them unpleasant to use, but:
- Dirty combs and steps wear out faster
- Unclean sensors may fail to detect overloads
- Debris in tracks increases risk of jamming/premature failure and sudden stop
Regular escalator cleaning should include:
- Step/pallet and comb brushing
- Handrail disinfection
- Floor plate cleaning
- Tension station inspection
- Removal of grease, oil, and obstructions from mechanical areas
What Should Be Done: A Shared Responsibility
For Service Providers:
- Conduct visual housekeeping checks during every service visit
- Report and rectify unsafe conditions
- Leave areas cleaner that you found them
- Include housekeeping in preventive maintenance SOPs
For Facility Owners:
- Prohibit storage in machine rooms and pits
- Provide safe, lit and ventilated access to all equipment areas
- Insist on periodic third-party audits for an unbiased review
Conclusion: Cleanliness Is a Core of Safety Culture
At first glance, a clean machine room or tidy pit may seem unimportant. But in reality, it's a mirror reflecting the seriousness of everyone involved - from the service provider to the client, from the technician to the top manager.
Because when elevators and escalators are clean:
- They are easier to inspection and maintain
- Safer to use
- More reliable
- And above all, they show that someone cares
🧠 If no one cleaned it, maybe no one checked it.
So whether you are a service provider or a property manager, let this message be clear:
Housekeeping is not just housekeeping - it's safety. It's accountability. It's trust.
About Heelag Elevator and Escalator Consultancy
At Heelag Elevator and Escalator Consultancy, we are dedicated to enhancing vertical transportation safety and standards. From audits to awareness, we actively work with stakeholders to uphold compliance and minimize risks in the industry.
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Your safety, Our Priority