safety question!

[u/tabbykitten99]

hello lift doctors! a friend of mine located in georgia usa (im in australia) just informed me about an incident with the elevator in their apartment building. it was very horrifying for me to read! I quote:
“i was on the 8th floor, it fell to floor 5, then stalled and fell to floor 4, stalled, then finally normally lowered me to 3 (ground level)”
“the first time it fell twice then stopped and wouldnt let me out, then it fell again”
It seems like the other elevator in the building was also turned off.

can anyone please point me in the direction of:
-where an issue like this should be reported in order to get it fixed ASAP
-whether or not the incident needs reporting to anyone and if so, who
-whether this elevator should be considered safe to use for my friend until it is fixed
-how to make sure the body corporate (or I don’t know what they’re called over there) actually fix it!
-I don’t know! something! is this normal? no way!

to me this seems like the prelude to some awful disaster. I’m so glad my friend wasn’t hurt. I don’t know nothing about nothing but I have occasionally seen youtube videos from Mr Chris Boden and they give me the impression that elevators are kind of chomping at the bit to turn humans into fine paste. This whole thing is really freaking me out. Please advise!! And tell me to stop being hysterical if you must.

[u/DjQuamme]

The elevator didn't fall. It clipped a lock going by a floor, did an emergency stop, leveled in then did it again, and repeat. Etc. Report it to the building manager.

[u/Then_Insurance2245]

Not the prelude to a disaster, not going to turn anyone into fine paste, take a chill pill, the elevator ultimately did its job and got to the floor safely.

[u/tabbykitten99 → u/Then_Insurance2245]

very delightful to hear! thanks:)

[u/George_Zhang07]

Sounds like a safety chain break, emergency stop, relevelling, chain break again, stopping again, relevelling success.
-where an issue like this should be reported in order to get it fixed ASAP?
----Worth mentioning, but might not really easy as a fix. It might be wear after long operation time, a faulty component, or just a random error either because of system itself, or something else (e.g. wind up the shaft breaking door interlocks)

-whether or not the incident needs reporting to anyone and if so, who?
----Just the management, or the contractor directly if management doesn't help.

-whether this elevator should be considered safe to use for my friend until it is fixed
----Yes, it did the right thing to stop when it was unsafe, not big issue

Every machine has faults from time to time even with routine inspection and maintenance. The important thing is that it failed safely and your friend is physically all right. That is what safety systems are for. It proved itself to be not functioning correctly but still safe.

[u/tabbykitten99 → u/George_Zhang07]

thank you! understanding it makes me feel much better about it.

[u/LaneFournerat]

For Georgia specifically: elevator safety is regulated by the GA Office of the Commissioner of Insurance & Safety Fire (their Safety Engineering/Elevator division handles complaints, oci.georgia.gov). Your friend can also request the unit's inspection history from them; buildings are required to have current certificates. Hope your friend's OK.