Cinema films feature diabolic lifts which, by themselves, open car doors in front of an unwary passenger unaware that a lift car is not there and that finally falls down in the empty shaft. This scene usually ends with a shot of the suspension ropes trembling scornfully. Without any attempt to decrease the cathartic effect of such a scene, which exorcises our worst nightmare (immediately after the one where we are caught trapped in an insane car), the real world is completely different. The attempt to avoid the risk of falling into the shaft is greatly supported by the Lift Directive 95/16/EC which, among the risks for people outside the lift car, states that landing access for entering and leaving the lift car must be provided with landing doors fitted with a locking device which, during normal operation, prevents: 1. the car movement controlled or not, if all the landing doors are not closed and locked; 2. the opening of a landing door if the car has not stopped at the landing or is outside the unlocking zone.
展开▼
