When Safety Scales, Lives Are Protected

Elevator Escalator Safety Foundation

January 30, 2026

Rider safety does not scale on its own. The Elevator Escalator Safety Foundation is powered by a dedicated team of three people, while the public we serve includes more than 330 million riders across the United States. That reality demands a different approach, one rooted in partnership, trust, and shared action.

This is where the industry comes in.

More than 100,000 professionals across the vertical transportation industry bring deep, practical knowledge to work every day. That knowledge is built on experience, judgment, and accountability. It already protects lives on jobsites, in machine rooms, and inside the systems riders rely on.

SafeTAmbassador Training equips industry professionals with a unified way to share rider safety knowledge, extending the impact of the expertise they already bring to their communities. By providing clear, consistent rider safety messaging, SafeTAmbassador Training allows professionals to translate real-world insight into public understanding in ways that are natural, credible, and effective.

In 2026, EESF is asking the industry to do the following:

1.) Commit 10 minutes of webinar training for your staff so they can earn SafeTAmbassador certification.

2.) Commit 20 minutes of rider safety education delivered at least once this year.

That is it.

Thirty total minutes out of the 525,600 minutes in a total year! Oh, but the impact those 30 minutes could make! Where can you serve? In a classroom. At a church. During career day. On a college campus. At a community fair. At a fire station. In a library. At your favorite after-work hangout. At a family gathering. Anywhere there are people who ride elevators, escalators, and moving walkways!

The setting does not matter. The audience does not need to be large. Even one rider makes a difference, because every rider counts.

Rider safety education carries more weight when it comes from the people behind the systems. It builds trust, reduces unsafe behavior, and strengthens the connection between riders and the equipment they use every day. If every industry professional reached just one rider for 20 minutes this year, the impact would be extraordinary!

This is public service grounded in professional excellence.

If you are a leader, will you say yes to equipping your team? We will have a prerecorded webinar coming out in February and live webinars throughout the year.

If you are an employee within ANY role in the VT Industry, will you say yes to helping rider safety reach farther than our small staff ever could alone?

This is how safety scales. Together.

For more information on becoming a SafeTAmbassador or setting up training for your staff, please reach out to Amber@eesf.org.

Two Sides of the Same Mission

January 29, 2026

Every elevator and escalator tells a quiet story.

Behind every smooth ride is a network of skilled professionals. Engineers who design systems with precision. Mechanics who install, maintain, and troubleshoot with care. Inspectors, consultants, manufacturers, and service teams who ensure equipment performs safely day after day. This expertise is the foundation of vertical transportation.

At the same time, there is another side of the story: the millions of people who step onto this equipment every day. Riders of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities who trust these systems without ever seeing the work behind them. This is where the Elevator Escalator Safety Foundation comes in.

EESF exists to bridge professional expertise and public understanding. While the industry builds, maintains, and advances the machines, EESF focuses on teaching the world how to use them safely. Our role is to translate complex systems into clear, practical guidance that everyday riders can understand and apply. Neither side stands alone.

Even the best-designed equipment relies on informed behavior. Even the most advanced systems depend on riders knowing what to do, what not to do, and how to respond when something unexpected happens. Safety is strongest when professional excellence and public education move forward together. That partnership is not optional; it is essential!

EESF programs extend the industry’s commitment to safety beyond the machine room and into classrooms, campuses, public buildings, and communities. We help ensure that the care and precision invested in vertical transportation is matched by awareness and confidence on the rider side of the doors.

This shared responsibility is what makes our work effective. The industry provides the knowledge. EESF provides the voice. Together, we reduce injuries, build trust, and reinforce the integrity of vertical transportation worldwide.

There is no clearer place to see this partnership in action than at the EESF 2026 Annual Conference and 35th Anniversary Celebration.

This year’s conference brings together the professionals behind the systems and the educators helping riders use them safely. It is a space for connection, collaboration, and renewed commitment to the mission we share.

If you have not yet registered, now is the time. Golf spots and individual registrations are still available, and the Gala provides access to our sold-out Expo and Annual Meeting for those who do not golf.

We hope you will join us. Because when industry expertise and rider education work together, everyone rides safer.

Warmly,

The Elevator Escalator Safety Foundation Team

Register for golf, sponsorships, or Gala tickets: https://events.golfstatus.com/event/2026-elevator-escalator-safety-foundation-eesf-golf-outing-presented-by-elevator-world

Reserve your hotel room: https://book.passkey.com/e/51158770

Balancing It All (and Loving It)!

Elevator Escalator Safety Foundation

January 28, 2026

If you’ve ever seen The Cat in the Hat balancing everything on his hat at once, you already understand the current vibe at EESF.

Right now, we are wrapping up 2025 while simultaneously navigating some important system changes, finalizing our 2026 objectives, and locking in tactical plans for the year ahead. At the same time, we are putting the finishing touches on what we know will be one of our strongest years yet, including an expanded rollout of Rider Safety Ambassador training and an Annual Conference we are incredibly excited about.

Yes, it’s a lot. And yes, it’s also exactly where we want to be.

We are working hard to make EESF 2026 more than a conference. It will be a true gathering for everyone who makes rider safety education possible. The planned energy, collaboration, and networking are next-level.

Register now to secure your spot at EESF 2026.

Visit the golf registration link to sign up for a golf spot, Gala ticket, or both. Registration includes access to the sold-out Expo and the Annual Meeting. Join us and network with your peers!

We want you there because you are the backbone of everything we do. Every program we deliver, every classroom we enter, and every rider we reach is possible because of this community.

Come celebrate with us. Come connect with us. Come help us balance it all, together.

We look forward to celebrating, connecting, and making history with you at EESF 2026.

Warmly, The Elevator Escalator Safety Foundation Team

Book golf, sponsorships, or Gala tickets here: https://events.golfstatus.com/event/2026-elevator-escalator-safety-foundation-eesf-golf-outing-presented-by-elevator-world

Reserve your hotel room here: https://book.passkey.com/e/51158770

Donate

Join Us for the 2026 EESF Annual Conference

If elevator safety had a group photo, this would be it.

Our EESF team is standing shoulder to shoulder with the SafeTRiders, smiling big, ready to welcome you to something special: the EESF 2026 Annual Conference!

For 35 years, the Elevator Escalator Safety Foundation has focused on one thing above all else: protecting riders through education. In 2026, we are celebrating that mission and inviting the entire vertical transportation community to be part of what comes next.

EESF 2026 Annual Conference

March 10–12, 2026 Grand Hotel Golf Resort and Spa, Pointe Clear, Alabama

This milestone year is about connection, collaboration, and community. It is about learning together, celebrating together, and recommitting ourselves to the people who use elevators and escalators every single day.

What to Expect

EESF 2026 is designed to be high-impact, easy to attend, and respectful of your time.

Day One kicks off with our evening welcome reception that will have drinks, snacks, and a small expo, allowing you to connect, explore, and ease into the conference with meaningful conversations and familiar faces.

Day Two features our annual Golf Tournament, presented by Elevator World, followed by an evening celebration at the EESF 35th Anniversary Gala, presented by NAESA International.

Day Three concludes with the EESF Annual Meeting and wraps up before lunch, making travel home simple and efficient.

Learn, Lead, and Make an Impact

Throughout the conference, you will have opportunities to learn how to become a Certified Rider Safety Ambassador, teaching EESF’s three rider safety programs using clear, everyday language that reaches real people. These moments are designed to remind us why this work matters and how each of us can help extend safety education into our communities.

And yes, expect some fun too! (I heard Safety Cat might join us)...

Golf, Celebration, and Giving Back

Our annual Golf Tournament takes place on Wednesday, March 11, at the Lakewood Golf Club. Golf participation directly supports EESF safety education programs across North America. If you have been thinking about registering, now is the time. A limited golf discount is ending soon.

Not a golfer. No problem!

Dinner-only tickets are available and include access to the Expo and Vendor Fair, making it a great way to connect and celebrate. Golf registrants are automatically registered for both the Expo and the Anniversary Dinner.

Seating for the 35th Anniversary Gala is limited, and once it fills, registration will close.

Make It a Destination

Our official hotel room block at the Grand Hotel Golf Resort and Spa is now open. This is a destination property, and rooms are booking quickly. We encourage you to reserve early and make the most of your time with us on the Alabama Gulf Coast.

Join Us

The SafeTRiders are ready. Our staff is ready. And we hope you will join us.

Whether you come to learn, to connect and network, to celebrate, or to support rider safety education, you belong at EESF 2026! Together, we can continue building safer rides and stronger communities.

We cannot wait to see you there!

Warmly, The Elevator Escalator Safety Foundation Team

Register for golf, sponsorships, or dinner tickets: https://events.golfstatus.com/event/2026-elevator-escalator-safety-foundation-eesf-golf-outing-presented-by-elevator-world

Reserve your hotel room: https://book.passkey.com/e/51158770

Letter from the Director

Letter & Invite from the Director

Elevator Escalator Safety Foundation

January 23, 2026

Dear Colleagues,

One of the greatest strengths of the vertical transportation industry is its people. Across every role and every level, there is a shared commitment to safety, professionalism, and responsibility to the public. That commitment is what has made our industry one of the safest forms of transportation in the world.

At the Elevator Escalator Safety Foundation, we believe the next evolution of rider safety is education that reaches beyond equipment and into everyday understanding. I am writing to personally invite you and your teams to become Certified Rider Safety Ambassadors.

As Rider Safety Ambassadors, participants will learn how to teach EESF’s three core rider safety programs using clear, accessible language designed for a general audience. This training is not about technical instruction. It is about translating industry knowledge into practical guidance that riders of all ages can understand and apply. The goal is simple and ambitious: to ensure that every member of the vertical transportation industry is equipped to speak confidently and consistently about rider safety.

We envision a future where rider education is not limited to a single role or department, but shared across companies at every level. Mechanics, inspectors, engineers, sales professionals, administrators, and leaders all have opportunities to influence how safety is understood by the public. When safety education becomes part of our collective identity, its impact multiplies.

To support this effort, EESF will be offering a series of lunch and learn, quick-certification courses designed to make participation practical and accessible. These sessions will provide focused training, certification pathways, and the tools needed to begin teaching immediately. I encourage companies to actively support and promote participation across their teams, not as an obligation, but as an investment in leadership, culture, and public trust.

I also invite you to join us in person at the 2026 Elevator Escalator Safety Foundation Annual Conference and 35th Anniversary Celebration. This milestone gathering will bring together industry professionals who share a commitment to rider safety education and community impact. Certification opportunities, collaboration, and celebration will all be part of this important event.

Rider safety is not the responsibility of a single organization. It belongs to all of us. By becoming Certified Rider Safety Ambassadors, we can extend the reach of education, strengthen public awareness, and continue building a safer future together.

I hope you will join us.

Thank you,

Amber Catlin-Kolodziej, Executive Director, Elevator Escalator Safety Foundation

Expanding Rider Safety Education at the Local Level

Expanding Rider Safety Education at the Local Level

Elevator Escalator Safety Foundation

January 22, 2026

Becoming a SafeTAmbassador and Bringing SafeTRiders to Your Community

Rider safety education is most effective when it is personal, visible, and local. While national programs set the framework, real impact happens in classrooms, community centers, and everyday conversations where riders form habits and expectations.

The SafeTRiders program was created with this principle in mind.

Designed to introduce elevator and escalator safety concepts to children in an engaging, age-appropriate way, SafeTRiders empowers young riders to understand how to use vertical transportation safely and confidently. The program’s reach, however, depends on people willing to carry that education into their own communities.

This is where SafeTAmbassadors play a critical role.

From Program to Practice

SafeTRiders is more than a curriculum. It is a practical tool that can be taught by industry professionals, educators, and community leaders who understand both the importance of safety and the value of early education.

SafeTAmbassadors are trained individuals who deliver the SafeTRiders program locally. They serve as trusted educators, translating industry knowledge into lessons that resonate with children and families. By teaching SafeTRiders in schools, youth organizations, and community settings, SafeTAmbassadors extend rider safety education beyond national campaigns and into everyday life.

This local approach ensures that safety education is not abstract, but relevant and memorable.

Why Local Education Matters

Children interact with elevators and escalators daily, yet few receive guidance on how to use them safely. Early education helps establish positive behaviors before unsafe habits form.

When safety lessons are delivered by someone connected to the local community, they carry added weight. Familiar faces build trust. Local context makes the material relatable. Repetition within a community reinforces learning.

SafeTAmbassadors help normalize safe behavior by making it part of the environment rather than a one-time message.

Who Can Become a SafeTAmbassador

SafeTAmbassadors come from across the elevator and escalator community. Industry professionals, inspectors, consultants, educators, building managers, and safety advocates all bring valuable perspectives to the program.

What matters most is not a specific job title, but a commitment to safety and a willingness to engage with the community. Training equips SafeTAmbassadors with the tools, materials, and guidance needed to deliver SafeTRiders effectively and consistently.

The program is designed to be accessible, allowing ambassadors to integrate education into existing outreach efforts, company initiatives, or volunteer activities.

Building a Network of Safety Advocates

Becoming a SafeTAmbassador connects individuals to a broader network of professionals who share a common goal: reducing preventable injuries through education.

This network approach strengthens consistency in messaging and expands the reach of rider safety education nationwide. Each SafeTAmbassador becomes a multiplier, extending the impact of the SafeTRiders program far beyond what any single organization could accomplish alone.

Collectively, these local efforts build a culture of awareness that benefits riders, building owners, and the industry as a whole.

A Practical Way to Make an Immediate Impact

Teaching SafeTRiders is one of the most direct ways industry professionals can contribute to public safety. The results are tangible. Children learn safer behaviors. Families carry that knowledge home. Communities become more aware.

Education delivered early creates long-term change. SafeTAmbassadors help ensure that change happens where it matters most.

Moving Forward Together

The Elevator Escalator Safety Foundation continues to expand the SafeTRiders program through partnerships with industry supporters and local ambassadors. By training SafeTAmbassadors, EESF strengthens its mission to protect riders through education while empowering individuals to make a meaningful difference in their own communities.

Those interested in learning how to teach the SafeTRiders program and become a SafeTAmbassador are invited to engage, train, and help lead the next generation of safe riders.

The industry also has an opportunity to support this mission in person at the 2026 Elevator Escalator Safety Foundation Annual Conference and 35th Anniversary Celebration, taking place March 10 to 12, 2026, at the Grand Hotel Golf Resort and Spa in Point Clear, Alabama. This milestone event brings together leaders, partners, and advocates committed to rider safety education. Golf, sponsorships, and dinner participation directly fund EESF programs, with limited gala seating and a closing golf discount approaching. Registration for golf, sponsorships, and dinner tickets is available at https://events.golfstatus.com/event/2026-elevator-escalator-safety-foundfoundation-eesf-golf-outing-presented-by-elevator-world. The official hotel room block is open at https://book.passkey.com/e/51158770, and early booking is encouraged.

Celebrating 35 Years of Rider Safety Education

Celebrating 35 Years of Rider Safety Education. Join Us in Point Clear.

Elevator Escalator Safety Foundation

January 13, 2026

As we move into 2026, I want to take a moment to thank the donors, partners, and supporters who make the work of the Elevator Escalator Safety Foundation possible. Because of your support, EESF continues to educate the riding public on the safe use of elevators, escalators, and moving walks in communities across the country.

I am excited to personally invite you to join us for the 2026 EESF Annual Conference and 35th Anniversary Celebration, taking place March 10–12, 2026, at the Grand Hotel Golf Resort & Spa in Point Clear, Alabama.

This year marks 35 years of rider safety education, and we are looking forward to celebrating this milestone with the people who have helped build and sustain this mission.

Golf, Dinner, and Sponsorship Opportunities

On Wednesday, March 11, we will host the EESF Golf Tournament presented by Elevator World at Lakewood Golf Club. Golf registrations and sponsorships directly fund safety education materials for schools, fire departments, libraries, and community organizations across North America.

Golf registrants are automatically registered for both the Expo and the Anniversary Dinner.

Not a golfer. No problem. Dinner-only tickets are available through the same registration link, and dinner registration also includes access to the Expo and Vendor Fair. The member meeting is open to all on March 12, 2026, and will end at 1 pm.

We are actively seeking event sponsors. Sponsorships help us expand our reach, strengthen our programs, and continue offering free safety education resources nationwide.

👉 Register for golf, dinner, or sponsorships here: https://events.golfstatus.com/event/2026-elevator-escalator-safety-foundation-eesf-golf-outing-presented-by-elevator-world

Important Deadline

All registrations must be completed by February 9, 2026. Seating for the 35th Anniversary Gala is limited to 100 guests, and registration will close once capacity is reached.

Hotel Information

The official conference room block at the Grand Hotel Golf Resort & Spa is now open, and rooms are booking quickly.

👉 Reserve your hotel room here: https://book.passkey.com/e/51158770

I hope you will join us in Point Clear as we reflect on 35 years of impact and look ahead to the future of rider safety education. Thank you for being part of this work and for helping us keep riders safe every day.

— Amber Catlin-Kolodziej Executive Director, Elevator Escalator Safety Foundation

Rider Safety Education as Risk Management

Rider Safety Education as Risk Management

Elevator Escalator Safety Foundation

January 12, 2026

How Awareness Protects People, Buildings, and the Industry

Risk management in the elevator and escalator industry is often discussed in terms of equipment, inspections, compliance, and documentation. These elements are essential and form the foundation of safe vertical transportation. However, one of the most influential risk factors remains outside the machine room and hoistway.

It is the rider.

Many elevator and escalator incidents are not the result of mechanical failure, but of human behavior. Distraction, misunderstanding, misuse, panic, and impatience all introduce risk into otherwise well-functioning systems. Addressing these behaviors through education is one of the most effective and often overlooked forms of risk mitigation.

The Cost of Uninformed Behavior

When a rider is injured, the impact extends far beyond the individual. Incidents can trigger investigations, insurance claims, litigation, reputational damage, and increased scrutiny for building owners and service providers. Even minor events can escalate quickly when fear or confusion drives unsafe reactions.

Education reduces these risks by setting expectations before an incident occurs. A rider who understands how to behave, what is normal, and how to respond calmly is less likely to make a situation worse. Knowledge becomes a stabilizing force during moments of uncertainty.

From a risk perspective, education is preventative rather than reactive.

Education as a Control Measure

In risk management terms, controls are put in place to reduce the likelihood or severity of harm. While physical safeguards and system redundancies are critical controls, behavioral controls are equally important.

Rider education functions as a behavioral control. It influences decision-making in real time, especially in high-traffic or high-stress environments such as hospitals, airports, schools, and public buildings. Clear guidance on safe behavior helps riders navigate these spaces with confidence rather than assumption.

When riders know what to expect, they are less likely to rush, force doors, misuse escalators, or panic during a delay.

Shared Risk, Shared Responsibility

No single entity owns rider behavior. Manufacturers design systems. Contractors maintain them. Building owners manage environments. Riders interact with the equipment.

Because responsibility is shared, solutions must be shared as well.

Rider safety education works best when it is supported across the industry. Consistent messaging from multiple touchpoints reinforces safe behavior and reduces confusion. When education is treated as a collective responsibility rather than a standalone initiative, its impact multiplies.

This shared approach strengthens the entire safety ecosystem.

Trust as a Safety Outcome

Trust is an often unspoken component of safety. Riders trust elevators and escalators to work. When that trust is disrupted by an incident, confidence can erode quickly.

Education helps preserve trust by empowering riders with understanding. Knowing how systems operate and how to respond appropriately reduces fear and restores a sense of control. Confident riders are calmer riders, and calm riders are safer riders.

For the industry, this trust translates into stronger relationships with building occupants, tenants, and the public.

The Role of EESF in Supporting Risk Reduction

The Elevator Escalator Safety Foundation exists to support this broader view of safety. By providing clear, accessible education, EESF helps address the human factors that traditional risk controls cannot fully manage.

Through collaboration with industry partners, EESF ensures that rider education is accurate, relevant, and aligned with real-world conditions. The Foundation does not replace existing safety measures. It strengthens them by addressing the behavioral layer that connects systems to people.

Education is not an added cost. It is an investment in prevention.

A Practical Path Forward

As buildings grow more complex and rider behavior continues to evolve, risk management strategies must adapt. Education offers a practical, scalable way to reduce incidents, protect people, and reinforce the industry’s commitment to safety.

When riders are informed, everyone benefits.

The industry also has an opportunity to support this mission in person at the 2026 Elevator Escalator Safety Foundation Annual Conference and 35th Anniversary Celebration, taking place March 10 to 12, 2026, at the Grand Hotel Golf Resort and Spa in Point Clear, Alabama. This milestone event brings together leaders, partners, and advocates committed to rider safety education. Golf, sponsorships, and dinner participation directly fund EESF programs, with limited gala seating and a closing golf discount approaching. Registration for golf, sponsorships, and dinner tickets is available at https://events.golfstatus.com/event/2026-elevator-escalator-safety-foundation-eesf-golf-outing-presented-by-elevator-world. The official hotel room block is open at https://book.passkey.com/e/51158770, and early booking is encouraged.

Advancing Rider Safety Through Industry Collaboration

Advancing Rider Safety Through Industry Collaboration

Elevator Escalator Safety Foundation

January 8, 2026

Building a Culture of Education Beyond Codes and Compliance

Elevator and escalator safety has always been rooted in collaboration. Manufacturers, contractors, inspectors, consultants, and building owners work together every day to design, install, maintain, and regulate systems that move people safely. That shared responsibility has made vertical transportation one of the safest modes of travel in the world.

Yet safety does not end when a system passes inspection. It continues every time a rider steps inside a car or onto an escalator.

Creating safer outcomes for riders requires more than equipment and enforcement. It requires a community committed to education, awareness, and shared responsibility.

Safety as a Shared Language

The elevator industry already speaks a common technical language through codes, standards, and best practices. Rider safety education benefits from the same collective approach.

When safety messaging is consistent across manufacturers, service providers, building managers, and public-facing materials, riders are more likely to understand and remember it. Conflicting or absent guidance creates confusion, while clear, unified messaging builds confidence and trust.

Education works best when it reinforces what the industry already knows: safe systems depend on safe use.

Meeting Riders Where They Are

One of the greatest challenges in rider safety education is reach. Riders do not attend safety training sessions. They learn through brief moments, signage, conversations, school programs, and real-world experience.

This is where collaboration becomes essential.

Building owners and property managers can reinforce safe behavior through visible reminders and policies. Contractors and inspectors can share educational resources during site interactions. Manufacturers can support outreach by integrating rider education into product communication and training materials. Schools and community organizations can introduce safety concepts early, long before unsafe habits form.

When each sector contributes within its natural touchpoints, safety education becomes part of the environment rather than an afterthought.

Education as Prevention

Many elevator and escalator incidents stem from the same patterns: distraction, rushing, misuse, or panic during unexpected stops. These are human behaviors, not mechanical failures.

Education directly addresses these risks by setting expectations before something goes wrong. Teaching riders how to stand, where to hold, when to wait, and how to respond calmly in unusual situations reduces unsafe reactions that can escalate minor events into serious incidents.

Preventive education is not about blame. It is about preparation.

The Role of EESF as a Connector

The Elevator Escalator Safety Foundation exists to support this collaborative effort. EESF does not replace industry expertise or authority. It amplifies it.

By developing age-appropriate, accessible educational programs and tools, EESF helps translate technical safety principles into guidance the public can understand and apply. The Foundation works alongside industry partners to ensure messaging is accurate, relevant, and aligned with real-world conditions.

Most importantly, EESF provides a neutral, nonprofit platform where the entire industry can rally around a shared mission: protecting riders through education.

Building a Culture, Not a Campaign

Rider safety education is most effective when it is ongoing, not episodic. A single poster or presentation cannot change behavior on its own. Culture is built through repetition, reinforcement, and shared values.

When the industry consistently supports education, riders begin to internalize safe behaviors as normal behavior. Over time, awareness becomes habit, and habit becomes prevention.

This cultural shift benefits everyone. Riders experience fewer injuries. Building owners reduce risk. The industry strengthens public trust. Safety becomes something the community owns together.

Moving Forward Together

The future of rider safety depends on continued collaboration. As technology evolves and buildings become more complex, the need for clear, accessible education only grows.

By working together across roles and organizations, the elevator and escalator community can extend safety beyond equipment and into everyday use. Education is not a separate initiative. It is the connective tissue that links engineering excellence to real-world outcomes.

The industry also has an opportunity to support this mission in person at the 2026 Elevator Escalator Safety Foundation Annual Conference and 35th Anniversary Celebration, taking place March 10 to 12, 2026, at the Grand Hotel Golf Resort and Spa in Point Clear, Alabama. This milestone event brings together leaders, partners, and advocates committed to rider safety education. Golf, sponsorships, and dinner participation directly fund EESF programs, with limited gala seating and a closing golf discount approaching. Registration for golf, sponsorships, and dinner tickets is available at https://events.golfstatus.com/event/2026-elevator-escalator-safety-foundation-eesf-golf-outing-presented-by-elevator-world. The official hotel room block is open at https://book.passkey.com/e/51158770, and early booking is encouraged.

Reducing Risk Through Rider Education

Reducing Risk Through Rider Education

Elevator Escalator Safety Foundation

January 7, 2026

Protecting Riders Through Education, Awareness, and Shared Responsibility

Elevators and escalators move billions of people every year. They are so reliable and so deeply integrated into daily life that most riders rarely think about safety at all. That familiarity is both a strength and a risk. When systems are trusted implicitly, awareness fades. When awareness fades, preventable injuries increase.

This is where the Elevator Escalator Safety Foundation plays a critical role.

The Elevator Escalator Safety Foundation exists for one reason: to protect the riding public through education. EESF is not a regulator, inspector, manufacturer, or contractor. It serves as an independent nonprofit bridge between the industry and the public, focused entirely on one goal: reducing injuries and saving lives through informed, practical safety awareness.

The Hidden Risk of Everyday Vertical Transportation

Elevators and escalators are among the safest forms of transportation in the world, but safe does not mean risk free. Each year, thousands of injuries occur involving elevators and escalators, many of them preventable. Common incidents include trips and falls, entrapments, improper behavior around doors, misuse of escalators, and lack of awareness during emergencies.

Children, older adults, people with disabilities, and distracted riders are especially vulnerable. In many cases, incidents are not caused by equipment failure but by a lack of understanding of how to ride safely.

The challenge is that elevator and escalator safety is rarely taught. Riders are often expected to know instinctively what to do, how to behave, and how to respond when something goes wrong. In reality, most people receive no formal education on elevator or escalator safety at any point in their lives.

Education as the Missing Layer of Safety

Codes, standards, inspections, and maintenance form the backbone of elevator and escalator safety. The industry does an exceptional job designing, installing, and maintaining equipment to rigorous standards. However, those systems represent only part of the safety equation.

The final and most unpredictable variable is the rider.

Education fills the gap between well engineered systems and real world human behavior. Teaching riders how to use equipment properly, what risks to avoid, and how to respond calmly in unusual situations reduces panic, prevents unsafe actions, and lowers injury rates.

The Elevator Escalator Safety Foundation focuses on this essential human layer of safety.

Who We Serve and How We Do It

EESF delivers age appropriate, accessible safety education through nationally recognized programs. Its initiatives reach children in classrooms, families in communities, college students, building managers, and everyday riders who interact with elevators and escalators without ever considering the risks involved.

Programs are designed to be practical, engaging, and memorable. Complex safety concepts are translated into clear, understandable guidance that people can apply immediately. Whether teaching children why escalators are not play equipment, helping students understand safe behavior in crowded buildings, or reminding adults how to respond during an elevator stop, the objective remains the same: informed riders make safer choices.

EESF also works closely with industry partners to ensure messaging is accurate, consistent, and grounded in real world conditions. The Foundation does not operate in isolation. Collaboration with manufacturers, contractors, consultants, inspectors, and safety professionals ensures that education efforts reflect both technical expertise and genuine care for public safety.

Why Rider Safety Is an Industry Responsibility

Rider safety is not only a public issue. It is an industry issue.

When riders are injured, the consequences extend beyond the individual. Incidents can lead to investigations, legal exposure, reputational harm, and increased scrutiny across the industry. Education addresses one of the most common root causes of these incidents: unsafe or uninformed rider behavior.

Proactive safety education demonstrates leadership. It reflects a commitment not only to compliance, but to care. It strengthens public trust in vertical transportation and reinforces the industry’s shared responsibility for the people it serves every day.

Supporting rider education is also an investment in the future. Children who learn safe behaviors early become informed adults. College students who understand elevator safety carry that knowledge into workplaces, public buildings, and leadership roles. Awareness builds over time and multiplies in impact.

A Mission That Belongs to Everyone

The Elevator Escalator Safety Foundation is funded through donations, sponsorships, and partnerships across the industry and the broader community. Every contribution directly supports education, outreach, and the development of tools that meet riders where they are.

Safety is not static. Buildings evolve. Technology advances. Rider behavior changes. Education must evolve alongside it.

EESF exists to ensure that as the industry advances, rider awareness keeps pace.

Elevators and escalators move people vertically, but safety moves responsibility horizontally. It belongs to manufacturers, contractors, building owners, educators, and riders alike.

When riders are educated, injuries are reduced. When injuries are reduced, lives are protected. When lives are protected, the purpose behind every system built and maintained is honored.

The industry also has an opportunity to support this mission in person at the 2026 Elevator Escalator Safety Foundation Annual Conference and 35th Anniversary Celebration, taking place March 10 to 12, 2026, at the Grand Hotel Golf Resort and Spa in Point Clear, Alabama. This milestone event brings together leaders, partners, and advocates committed to rider safety education. Golf, sponsorships, and dinner participation directly fund EESF programs, with limited gala seating and a closing golf discount approaching. Registration for golf, sponsorships, and dinner tickets is available at https://events.golfstatus.com/event/2026-elevator-escalator-safety-foundation-eesf-golf-outing-presented-by-elevator-world. The official hotel room block is open at https://book.passkey.com/e/51158770, and early booking is encouraged.

EESF 35th Anniversary Gala and Golf Outing

EESF 35th Anniversary Gala and Golf Outing

Elevator Escalator Safety Foundation

November 14, 2025

SAVE THE DATE EESF Annual Golf Outing Presented by Elevator World Inc. & 35th Anniversary Gala March 10–12, 2026 | Point Clear, Alabama

The Elevator Escalator Safety Foundation invites you to join us for a special three-day industry event on the beautiful Gulf Coast as we celebrate 35 years of safety education and partnership.

This year’s gathering will include: • Executive Session • Member Session • Annual Golf Outing • 35th Anniversary Gala Celebration • Additional opportunities for connection, collaboration, and vertical transportation industry engagement

Full details and registration information will be announced next Wednesday, November 19, 2025, in the EESF Newsletter.

Be sure to watch for our Early Bird Blitz, offering 10 percent off all golf foursomes from November 19 through December 20.

Mark your calendar, spread the word, and get ready for a milestone event you will not want to miss!