DOSH: 97% of escalator accidents reported from 2011-2015 involved young children
PETALING JAYA: Placing a foot on the escalator's yellow demarcation line was among the reasons that caused an escalator mishap in KL Sentral on Monday, where a four-year-old boy lost half of his foot.
The Department of Occupational Health and Safety (DOSH) spokesman told theSun that the escalator operator has observed the necessary security aspects in ensuring the safety of its users.
"The boy had placed his foot on the yellow demarcation line, which became part of the reason for the incident to occur.
"Therefore, we hope parents can observe their children and adhere to escalators' safety guidelines to avoid repetition of the same incident," the spokesman said.
He said the incident is still under investigation by DOSH.
In the 4pm incident, Fire and Rescue Department personnel took two hours to retrieve the child's severed foot which got stuck in the escalator.
Meanwhile, DOSH Director-General Datuk Ir. Mohtar Musri in a statement on Wednesday said the department had received 31 reports regarding escalator accident in Malaysia from 2011 to May 2015 with 97% of the victims being young children.
He added incidences involving escalators could be avoided if users adhere to the safety precautions, such as positioning themselves in the designated area and practising caution when wearing sandals and rubber shoes.
"The usage of sandals or soft rubber shoes by children should be given more attention by their guardians as it is more prone to be pulled or stuck in a moving escalator," he said.
Mohtar said most escalators in Malaysia were designed according to the EN 115-1 standard, which regulates the safety features of an escalator.
He added safety devices that should be installed according to the EN 115-1 include the emergency stop button, yellow demarcation line and skirt brush.
Mohtar said Factories and Machinery Act 1967 stated that an escalator must receive certificate of fitness to operate, with is renewed every 15 months.
"It is the responsibility of premise owner to appoint a competent firm to conduct escalator's maintenance," he said.