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Why Stopping a Closing Lift Door With Your Hand Can Be Deadly
M
Moneycontrol•14-10-2026, 14:10
Why Stopping a Closing Lift Door With Your Hand Can Be Deadly
- •Using your hand or foot to stop closing lift doors relies entirely on sensors that can fail due to dust, wear, or skipped maintenance.
- •If a sensor fails or door wiring is faulty, the lift can move with a limb caught in the gap, leading to crushed bones or fatal accidents.
- •Instead of risking injury, you should press the call button, ask someone inside to open the doors, or simply wait for the next lift.
- •If you get caught, never yank your limb out; instead, press the alarm button and shout for help.
- •Immediately report any lift that fails to reopen upon contact to your building management.
Key Questions Answered
If lift sensors or door locks are faulty, worn, or poorly maintained, the cabin can start moving even while a limb is caught in the gap. This can lead to severe injuries like crushed bones, amputations, or fatal dragging accidents.
Newer lifts utilize an infrared light curtain along the door edge, while older models rely on a mechanical safety edge that requires physical pressure. However, these sensors can fail to cover every inch due to dust, wear, or skipped maintenance.
You should simply let the door close and catch the next lift instead of risking injury. If you miss the doors, press the call button outside to reopen them if the lift has not moved, or ask someone inside to press the door open button.
