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.