The accident on an escalator at Don Mueang airport yesterday (Thursday) might have been caused by a small object falling into the end of the escalator, causing a gap in the floor panel that trapped the leg of a passenger before it stopped automatically 20 seconds later, said Boonpong Kitwattanachai, an advisor to the mechanical engineering committee of the Thai Engineering Institute of Thailand.

 

He said that a floor panel was found to have fallen under the escalator, indicating that the bolt which attaches the floor to the escalating rail had failed.

 

He also said that Don Mueang airport had hired the company which supplied the escalator to maintain it and it is checked by the company’s mechanics every day before it is opened for service. As such, it is unlikely that poor maintenance was the cause of the accident, claimed Boonpong.

 

He also dismissed the suggestion that the escalator is too old, after having been in service at the airport for about 30 years, noting that the normal life span of an escalator is 45 years.

 

For the sake of safety while riding on the escalator, Boonpong suggested passengers to keep one hand on the handrail and avoid using their cell phone.

 

#news

Source: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/don-mueang-airports-escalator-accident-not-caused-by-poor-maintenance/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2023-07-01

 

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5 minutes ago, webfact said:

Don Mueang airport had hired the company which supplied the escalator to maintain it and it is checked by the company’s mechanics every day

A likely story.....

 

 

40 minutes ago, flyingtlger said:

A likely story.....

 

 

In a BBC report:

 

'The 57-year-old's leg got stuck on Thursday morning after she tripped over her suitcase while on her way to board a flight, local media said'.

 

'A pink suitcase next to her had lost two wheels, while yellow comb plates typically found at the end of travelators had also broken off'.

 

Now that might sound a bit fanciful to some but not to me, because I witnessed a very similar accident at a tube station on London's underground. A lady had her suitcases in front of her and when she got to the bottom the cases jammed in the off ramp and she fell forward. So I know it can happen.

 

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-66062753

 

Edited June 30, 20233 yr by Moonlover

It looks like a moving walkway to me rather than an escalator which normally moves people up/down from one floor to another.  I think there's something amiss in this report.

Moving walkways just move people on a flat surface to save walking.  I find it hard to believe that DM Apt had this device installed for 30 years.

3 hours ago, webfact said:

He said that a floor panel was found to have fallen under the escalator, indicating that the bolt which attaches the floor to the escalating rail had failed.

And what do you call the above, floor's panel falling and bolts failing a well maintained escalator system?

Seems to me to be a lot of "might have been" problems ...surely a proper investigation is required to give the exact problem and any future action to avoid this happening again.

"As such, it is unlikely that poor maintenance was the cause of the accident, claimed Boonpong."

We will soon be hearing it was completely the lady's fault and she will need to pay for all the expenses incurred.????

3 hours ago, webfact said:

The accident on an escalator at Don Mueang airport yesterday (Thursday) might have been caused by a small object falling into the end of the escalator, causing a gap in the floor panel that trapped the leg of a passenger before it stopped automatically 20 seconds later, said Boonpong Kitwattanachai, an advisor to the mechanical engineering committee of the Thai Engineering Institute of Thailand

He should be stacking shelves at 7-11... pure BS.

The escalators all need a good looking in to.

More than once I've been caught out at Suvarnabhumi where one has to hold the brake handle "up" on the luggage trolleys.

It is a fairly simple proceedure but if done incorrectly, it can lead to a trolley run-away.

That plus, if you get it wrong at the end and don't release the brake at an appropriate time, all hell breaks loose.

3 hours ago, webfact said:

For the sake of safety while riding on the escalator, Boonpong suggested passengers to keep one hand on the handrail and avoid using their cell phone.

 

This fanciful nonsense suggesting it has any relationship to this accident calls into question the rest of his assurances on the maintenance. 

For the sake of safety while riding on the escalator, Boonpong suggested passengers to keep one hand on the handrail and avoid using their cell phone.

 

 

Is this so that you can leap over the rail or lift yourself up using both rails if the floor opens up in front of you?

I bet there are far more  doing the long walk beside the walkway now and those venturing on are practising their "long jump" technique at the end! ????

3 hours ago, flyingtlger said:

A likely story.....

 

 

So, as usual a "not my fault" excuse being used.  

A 30 year old failing bolt is not a maintenance issue? Though escalators may have long lifetimes, this one is used alot more than most. So, it is reasonable to replace it after 15 years, for the sake of safety. 

 

And advising people to use the handrail is bad advice. They are utterly riddled with bacteria and germs. Never use an escalator handrail. 

“The end of the walk is ahead.”  Now, where have I heard that?

He made it seem that 30 years is like 3 years only. Even if it's meant to last for 45 years doesn't mean you only change it then. Most especially for something that's being used every day, it's not like they don't have the budget for it.

OK so it's not poor maintenance because a bolt fell out of the panel and it broke,, where did they find this idiot

4 hours ago, webfact said:

The accident on an escalator at Don Mueang airport yesterday (Thursday) might have been caused by a small object falling into the end of the escalator, causing a gap in the floor panel that trapped the leg of a passenger before it stopped automatically 20 seconds later, said Boonpong Kitwattanachai, an advisor to the mechanical engineering committee of the Thai Engineering Institute of Thailand.

 

Sounds to me, that checking such things must be included in good maintenance. Which makes not checking............bad maintenance.

Deny, point finger, delay, avoid taking responsibility at all costs...wash, rinse, repeat. Lady loses leg...Thai cannot lose face. 

4 hours ago, webfact said:

The accident on an escalator at Don Mueang airport yesterday (Thursday) might have been caused by a small object falling into the end of the escalator,

That small object appears to have been the wheel off the lady's own suitcase if the BBC's report has any credibility. which I believe to be so. (see my post at the top of this page)

 

The airport is being is diplomatic here. They are not blaming the passenger, but not accepting responsibility either. But do note they have said that they will fully compensate her.

 

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-66062753

 

 

Edited July 1, 20233 yr by Moonlover

It is a travelator, not an escalator.

 

Same same, but different!

An emergency stop takes 20 seconds? That right there is rubbish! Two seconds. I would hope. 

 

Why 20 seconds? 

 

Poor maintenance! 

4 hours ago, Skipalongcassidy said:

"As such, it is unlikely that poor maintenance was the cause of the accident, claimed Boonpong."

 

There is no such thing as preventative maintenance in Thailand... everything is after the fact.

True, I have often said to the Mrs car needs going in for a service and get the what for it's still working answer.

Seems like we should always position wheeled luggage behind us when exiting travelators and escalators.

How about "No" maintenance as is the norm.. in Thailand

So, a loose bolt finally fell off, which caused the panel to collapse.  How is that not poor maintenance?   If the moving sidewalk is inspected every day, as stated, why was the loose bolt not found and tightened?  

7 minutes ago, newnative said:

So, a loose bolt finally fell off, which caused the panel to collapse.  How is that not poor maintenance?   If the moving sidewalk is inspected every day, as stated, why was the loose bolt not found and tightened?  

Exactly.

Small objects must fall into gaps in such escalators quite frequently. So where were the mitigation measures in order to prevent such serious injury? Or, is it because the escalator is so old it doesn’t have any mitigation measures! 

1 hour ago, kwak250 said:

For the sake of safety while riding on the escalator, Boonpong suggested passengers to keep one hand on the handrail and avoid using their cell phone.

 

 

Is this so that you can leap over the rail or lift yourself up using both rails if the floor opens up in front of you?

No, it's so you can hop over the grid at the end of the rail when your luggage gets caught. Don't use a cell phone so you'll be alert and ready to jump.