As the new year begins, I’d like to take a few moments to reflect on a few of the accomplishments that the elevator section has been involved in over the past year and the changes we have seen.

The year 2003 brought many changes to our personell. Funding was approved by the legislature allowing the elevator section to hire two full time elevator inspectors. Dick Rayner was hired to perform inspections in Regions 1 and 2. Dave Clary was hired to perform inspections in Regions 3 and 4. The addition of these two inspectors, along with the ever-improving efficiency of the existing inspectors, has aided our efforts in completing the annual inspections of all conveyances as mandated by RCW 70.87. Other staff changes included the loss of Becky Ernstes, technical specialist for the elevator section, who left the public sector to take a position with a private elevator company. Rebecca Llewellyn, an office assistant for the elevator section, was promoted to a position with Contractors’ Registration in Specialty Compliance Services. Caprice Catalano has stepped into the vacant position created when Rebecca promoted. Howard Long, an elevator inspector in Region 1 retired in August of 2003. We continue to wish all these folks the best of luck in their new endeavors.

Outreach efforts continued with the assistance of both the Central Office Staff and the field staff. The “Rising Times” was developed and is now being distributed nationally. Inspector Bob Hoeschen trained many Fire Department personnel on how to safely evacuate entrapped passengers from elevators. I participated in two events to educate children on elevator and escalator safety during the National Elevator and Escalator Safety Awareness Week. We also participated at the Department of Transportation’s safety event in November. Other outreach efforts included participation in a symposium sponsored by Evergreen State College. In addition, a meeting was held between all the central office staff, the state elevator inspectors and elevator companies to allow all parties to voice their concerns and seek possible resolutions to the issues.

Outreach efforts focused on meeting the needs of our stakeholders continued with increased meetings held between the elevator section and varous stakeholder groups. These groups included the owners and representatives of grain elevators and manufacturers, the manufacturers and owners of private residential conveyances and multiple other groups. The elevator section increased the number of meetings held on the “east side of the mountains” twofold, in an effort to bridge the communication gap felt by stakeholders in that area.

An interagency agreement was reached with the City of Spokane allowing the City to utilize the services of L&I’s elevator inspectors in instances when the city’s sole inspector is unavailable due to illness, vacation or potential cases of conflict of interest.

At statewide elevator inspectors’ meetings held throughout the summer, the ASME A17.1 2000 code and addenda were reviewed and discussed in prepartion for adoption in 2004. Exceptions to this code and other relevant changes to the WAC rules were drafted in preparation for adoption in 2004.

New legislation was presented to temper the HB 2629 that was passed in 2003. ESSB 5942 was a result of the hard work and collaborative efforts between labor, industry and L&I to find a “more palatable” alternative to HB 2629. ESSB 5942 contained provisions allowing employees of public agencies and manufacturing plants to perform maintenance on their conveyances under certain circumstances. It also provided a longer grandfathering period and helped to resolve many of the issues brought forth by stakeholders after the initial licensing legislation had been passed.

Statewide inspectors’ meetings have been scheduled for February, June and October in 2004. So far, two manufacturers—Garaventa and Otis Elevator--have agreed to present their newest products at these meetings to familiarize the inspectors with the equipment and give the inspectors an opportunity to ask questions regarding the products. If you are a representative of a manufacturer and would like to present your company’s newest technology at our inspectors’ meetings, please contact me at 360-902-6128.

2004 will also bring the implementation of licensing for elevator contractors and mechanics as required by the passage of ESSB 5942. I expect that April to June will be a very busy time for the Central Office as we begin the licensing process and work our way through all the nuances that will accompany this process. Hand in hand with the licensing will be the implementation of the new WAC rules and the adoption of A17.1 2000 and addenda as well as the adoption of A18.1 and addenda.

We will also continue to increase our outreach efforts. Stakeholders meetings have been scheduled beginning in January. As we did in 2003, we will ask the governor to recognize the second week in November, 2004 as Elevator and Escalator Safety Awareness Week in WA.
We have been invited to appear at Pacific Place again this November to promote elevator and escalator safety. We are hoping to present this information at more schools this year as well.

I can be reached by e-mail at dayl235@LNI.wa.gov or by phone at 360-902-6128.

- Jack Day, Elevator Chief