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'We opened the doors by force': Over 80% of lifts remain out of control

2023-07-31 15:43:10Aktualitet SHKRUAR NGA REDAKSIA VOX
'We opened the doors by force': Over 80% of lifts remain out of
Illustrative photos

Orlando, a project manager from Durres, says he is "bad luck" with the elevators. During his years working in Tirana, the 28-year-old says he was stuck three times in elevators of various palaces.

"The last time was in the working elevator, in a palace in the former Blloku area, about 4 months ago," he recounted, adding that he had been along with two other residents.

We tried to call the other people by sounding the alarm, but no one listened. As no one was coming to our aid, we managed to forcefully open the doors," he added.

Orlando is just one of many Tirana residents who have experienced fear of being blocked in the elevator. Bledar Bajrami, head of the Firefighters Union and a partier in hundreds of rescue operations, says that every week accidents are recorded due to problems with elevators.

"In most cases, citizens are trapped in the elevator due to the power being disconnected and not keeping the elevator battery charged. But there have been cases that this battery has not been at all or has been out of operation and has not been switched," Bajrami told BIRN.

Data obtained by BIRN through a request for information shows that of the approximately 10,18 active elevators in the country, only <>% of them are registered and co-ordinated – while the rest operate under illegal conditions.

According to the State Inspectorate for Market Protection, which is responsible for ensuring the safety of the elevators and their registration, only 1804 elevators are registered with this institution. About 82% of elevators in the country remain off-screen radars.

The inspectorate also added that complaints about problems with elevators have been numerous, especially in the city of Tirana.

"From 2019 to the end of 2022 there have been 1344 planned inspections and from these inspections have been observed numerous problems," the Inspectorate said in a written response.

ICS has imposed 467 administrative measures, ranging from fines to prohibition of the use of the elevator.

Albanian legislation defines as persons responsible for the operation of the elevator the builder or administrator of the palace, who also bear the legal obligation to make its registration.

The same persons should also take care to make conformity assessments by an approved body – which for more than 80% of the elevators in the country has not happened. According to the State Inspectorate for Market Protection, the persons responsible under the law do not perform their obligations.

"The persons responsible for conducting the technical examination and recording the elevator are not aware," SAID THEMT.

The Inspectorate has called for legal changes to the safety of the elevators, proposing the expansion of the circle of responsible persons.

“... Anticipation of legal obligations for installers and lift maintainers, as they are the main link in terms of installation and maintenance of elevators," added ICSHT.

Firefighters' Union head Bledar Bajrami told BIRN that the main causes of elevator breakdowns are their consumption and lack of controls.

"There are some types of elevators that are oil pressure. From the working hours the pressure of the oil falls and the pump is strained. Overweight plays a negative role, as from the strain, oil starts and flows over the cabin. And in the earliest case that there is an electric spark for different causes, it can turn into a catastrophe for the people inside," Bajrami told BIRN.

"There was also a clunk, as the right kind of co-ordination was not done. In addition to the buffer from use, problems may also come from external factors, such as moisture," he concluded.


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