Investigates

Action News Jax Investigates: Elevators operating with failed inspections, expired inspections

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Dozens of elevators in Jacksonville are operating with failed inspections and expired certifications.

Action News Jax searched state records and found city buildings, businesses, hospitals and high-rise apartments, operating elevators that aren’t compliant with state code.

Kacie Cleveland was halfway through a world stair climbing record attempt when she stepped into the elevator 42 floors up in Jacksonville’s tallest building.

"It stopped between floors, and the way this building works it's a bank so they have security floors where you can't get out at every level,” Cleveland said.

The Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department orchestrated a complicated rescue three hours later through the roof, she climbed up the walls and was lifted out, Cleveland said.

"I was willing to do anything to get out of that elevator,” Cleveland said. "The scariest thing is thinking the elevator is going to drop."

JFRD has been called out 406 times for "elevator incidents" in the last two years. Action News Jax dug deeper and found many of the elevators were operating with failed and expired inspections.

According to state records, there are 66 elevators in Jacksonville operating with expired inspections, and 53 of those failed their last inspection.

We compared the state database to the list provided by JFRD, and found a dozen locations where elevators were not only out of compliance, fiirefighters were called out for incidents involving elevators.

They include Riverplace Towers, Riverside Park Pace Office Building and Baptist Medical center.

Also on JFRD's list of elevator incidents for the last two years, Memorial Hospital with 14 elevator incidents, the Jacksonville Housing Authority had seven and so did a brand-new development at 220 Riverside, which just opened just a year ago.

JFRD was also called to a luxury Southside apartment complex in March of last year.

State records show 11 failed and expired inspections at City Gate Apartments. Action News Jax checked out each one and found certificates dating back to 2014, and one elevator had no paperwork.

"We're actually having (the elevators) inspected at the end of the month," said a City Gate employee.

The state confirmed, just days after we recorded almost a dozen expired inspections, that three of the elevators at Citigate had been brought up to code. The other eight elevators are waiting to be re-inspected, almost eight months after having failed in September 2015.

"There were four people on the elevator with me,” said Roxanne Weeks, who was trapped in an elevator at the main library downtown. "When we got to the ground floor, the doors opened a little and then shut and wouldn't let us out."

The building’s owner is responsible for annual inspections, and those examiners are private and don't work for the state.

The Bureau of Elevator Safety has one inspector in our area who deals with complaints, follow-up inspections and safety issues. The agency wouldn't grant an interview to talk about the number of elevators operating with expired inspections across Jacksonville.

The bureau said elevators must "present an immediate threat to public safety to be sealed."

Our investigation also found the River Place Towers on the Southbank and Jacksonville University were fined for compliance issues.

River Place Management wouldn't call us back for a comment.

JU sent a statement, saying:

"Jacksonville University works to ensure the safety of its facilities at all times. The University's new facilities management company, Aramark, contracted with its outside elevator maintenance vendor to ensure that the three elevators in question were in compliance and on schedule for routine certification.

"Once that was accomplished, the vendor was to notify the state to conduct an inspection, and that part of the process took longer than expected. State inspectors confirmed the elevators' safety, and JU now awaits the paperwork from the state to post new certificates in the elevators."

Statement from the Department of Business and Professional Regulation:

Emergency seals of elevators can be done for any violation or combination of violations that present an immediate threat to public safety. For your background, elevators have been sealed as a result of the following conditions or violations:

  • Flooded and rusted out equipment, including ropes, hydraulic unit, and machine room
  • Alarm bell and emergency communication in cab not working
  • Car door able to open while unit operating
  • Hoistway door locking device not working, allowing door to be opened by pulling
  • Unit able to operate with door(s) open
  • Unit designed for private residence use installed in a public use area and missing important safety features
  • In response to accidents

Please note, elevators are also sealed upon request by the owner. Effective January 2016, an owner-requested seal is identified as ‘Sealed, Inactive.’ The Bureau also uses ‘special sealed’ for buildings that are vacant with no access available.

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