The Rising Times: December 2003 :: Edition 7
 
December 2003 - Edition 7Washington State Department of Labor and Industries, Elevator Program
The Rising Times - A monthly look at elevator operations, maintenance and safety
From the Chief
Left to right, top row: Carrie Anderson, Elevator Chief Inspector Dotty Stanlaske (as Safe-T-Rider) and Cynthia Nordquist, Carrie's mother. Bottom row: Molly Anderson and Clara Van Orman.
Left to right, top row: Carrie Anderson, Elevator Chief Inspector Dotty Stanlaske (as Safe-T-Rider) and Cynthia Nordquist, Carrie's mother. Bottom row: Molly Anderson and Clara Van Orman.


During National Elevator Escalator Safety Awareness Week last month, I had the pleasure of participating in two safety outreach events.

On Wednesday, Nov. 12, I visited Fort Stevens Elementary School in Yelm and spoke with Ms. Werz's and Mrs. Wentzall's fourth-grade students. I was surprised at how knowledgeable the children were of elevators and escalators. They asked many questions and had some great suggestions on how to ride these conveyances safely. I would like to thank Alicia Llewellyn for inviting me to give this presentation to her class.

On Saturday, Nov. 15, Shari Purves-Reiter, our Contractor Registration Program's outreach manager, and I visited the Pacific Place Mall in downtown Seattle to promote elevator and escalator safety. We handed out 600 coloring books on elevator and escalator safety, along with many brochures and information on free educational packets for second-grade students.

Although the National Elevator Escalator Safety Awareness Week has come to an end, our efforts to promote safe riding habits on these conveyances continue throughout the year. If you have any questions on the Safe-T-Rider program, please contact me at 360-902-6128 or Shari at 360-902-4733.

I can be reached by e-mail at sdot235@LNI.wa.gov or by phone at 360-902-6128.

- Dotty Stanlaske, Elevator Chief
Meet Our Inspectors

Region 5 Inspector Dennis Coleman
Region 5 Elevator Inspector Dennis Coleman.







Inspector Dennis Coleman is responsible for inspecting the conveyances in Okanogan, Chelan, Douglas, Kittitas, Grant, Yakima, Benton, Walla Walla, Franklin, Columbia, Garfield and Asotin counties.

Dennis has worked as an L&I elevator inspector for 20 years. Prior to working for the department, Dennis worked in the elevator industry for 14 years with Westinghouse Elevator Co. and Montgomery Elevator Co. Dennis holds a Qualified Elevator Inspector (QEI) certification. He believes that the most important part of his job is ensuring public safety.
Hot Topics

Caprice Catalano joins the staff
We're happy to announce that Caprice Catalano has joined us as an Office Assistant Senior.

She replaces Rebecca Llewellyn who recently left to begin a new position in L&I's Contractor Registration Program.

Caprice joined us on Dec. 8. Prior to working for the Elevator Section, Caprice was an Office Assistant Senior for L&I's WISHA division.
Events Calendar

January 2004
Jan. 13: Stakeholder's meeting, L&I Tukwila office, 9 a.m. to noon

Jan. 21: Stakeholder's meeting, L&I Spokane office, 9 a.m. to noon

February 2004
Feb. 3-4: Elevator inspectors' meeting/training (not a public meeting), L&I Tukwila office

Feb. 17: Advisory Committee meeting, 9 to 11 a.m., Tukwila L&I office

Feb. 24: Public hearing on proposed rule changes, 9 a.m. to noon, Tumwater L&I office

Feb. 24: Public hearing on proposed rule changes, Spokane (time and location to be determined)
Events Calendar

Variance requests: Variance requests should always be submitted on L&I's form, and accompanied by the appropriate fee. The fee schedule and the form can be found at www.LNI.wa.gov/scs/elevators/forms. Utilizing the proper form and enclosing the necessary fee can help eliminate unnecessary delays in processing the request.
       
Question of the Month

Each month we will feature a question that was posed to our chief or inspectors.

This month's question:

Q. Is a permit required to install a "portable wheelchair lift?"

A. Except for the cities of Spokane and Seattle, L&I has jurisdiction over conveyances within this state. RCW 70.87 states: "Conveyance means an elevator, escalator, dumbwaiter, belt manlift, automobile parking elevator, moving walk, and other elevating devices, as defined in this section." RCW 70.87 further defines a wheelchair lift as "a lift that travels in a vertical or inclined direction and is designed for use by physically handicapped persons." There is no distinction between "permanent" or "portable" conveyances in either of these definitions.

Any installation of a conveyance in L&I's jurisdiction must be permitted. However, most "portable lifts" do not comply with our current code requirements. Therefore, L&I will not issue permits for installation of this equipment.
 

 

December 2003
Edition 7
The Rising Times is a monthly e-newsletter from the Department of Labor and Industries' Elevator program. Click here to be added to our distribution list.
 

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