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## Elevator Safety ### Entering the Elevator * A member of the fire department should be assigned as the elevator operator. This is often called being "Otis". * Once the elevator is at the proper location and access to the stairs is secured, the elevator should be returned immediately to the lobby...

## Elevator Safety ### Entering the Elevator * A member of the fire department should be assigned as the elevator operator. This is often called being "Otis". * Once the elevator is at the proper location and access to the stairs is secured, the elevator should be returned immediately to the lobby for reinforcements. ### Riding the Elevator * A member should remain within the elevator at all times in most fire department service installations. This is because the car doors will only open in response to the door-open button within the elevator. * If the car is sent back to the lobby unstaffed, it will be unusable by later-arriving units. ### Exiting the Elevator * Once you arrive at the destination, usually two floors below the fire, all members should be prepared to instantly don their facepieces and move to the nearest stairway if smoke pours into the car. * When the doors open, be prepared to hit the door close button if there is smoke on the floor. If there is smoke, descend two floors and try again. If the floor is clear, ensure that you can get into the stairway from the elevator lobby before everyone exits the elevator and the car returns to the lobby. * Don't stand in the car doorway to hold the elevator. If the car suddenly malfunctions and moves, you could be crushed against the floor. * Either have a member remain inside the car pressing the door-open button, or lay a length of rolled or folded hose across the doorway to prevent the door from closing fully. ### Additional Safety Considerations * Although it might be possible on some cars to open the roof hatch and shine the light up while the elevator is ascending, the precautionary stops are still necessary for the other two reasons. * Just because no smoke may be apparent doesn't mean that you should make the ascent directly. These shafts are often pitch black, anyway, and what appears to be the top of the shaft may be a solid layer of smoke.