MTR steps up escalator safety campaign

While MTR station escalators may seem benign, accidents can and do happen when passengers fail to pay attention or follow simple safety procedures.

The MTR Corporation recorded 435 escalator accidents in the first half of this year.

In an effort to cut those numbers, the corporation yesterday launched its annual escalator safety campaign, which runs until the end of the month.

"Escalator accidents are common in a busy environment," said Adi Lau Tin-shing, the MTR's deputy operations director. "On the MTR, safety is the priority." According to Lau, about 40 per cent of accidents happened because passengers lost their balance, and about 18 per cent occurred when people carried large items.

Accidents were also caused by people standing too close to the edges of escalators or jostling one another, he said.

"When we use the escalators we need to make sure that we stand still and hold the handrail," Lau said. "If passengers do carry bulky luggage, they are advised to use our lift."

More than half of the accidents involved children or elderly people, while passengers wearing sandals while standing too close to the edges of escalators are at particular risk.