Failure of braking system resulted in lift mishap - Khalid

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 28 -- The failure of the lift braking system resulted in the elevator mishap at the Kampung Kerinchi People's Housing Project (PPR) flat on  August 2, said Federal Territories Minister Khalid Abdul Samad.

He said based on a forensic investigation carried out by the Department of Occupational Safety and Health (JKKP), the elevator black box revealed one of the plungers in the brake section was damaged and this had prevented the lift from stopping.

"On the day of the incident, the brakes could not function properly because the plunger was stuck. As a result the brake mechanisms failed causing the lift to crash," he told a press conference at  Kuala Lumpur City Hall 1 (DBKL) here.

Also present were DOSH director-general Omar Mat Piah and Forensic Engineering Division director Salina Tukimin.

He said the elevator, including the brake system, was inspected by an appointed contractor a week before the incident and the lift was confirmed to be operating well.

Elaborating Khalid said at the time of the incident the elevator brake system was working but the speed and descent did not attain the level to enable the emergency brake system to be activated.

He said the speed to enable the emergency brake system to be activated was 2.18 metres per second for electrical brakes and 2.26 metres per second for mechanical brakes.

"As the travel speed as it was crashing was 2.13 metres per second, the emergency brake system did detect the overspeed," he said.

He said investigation into the incident was completed and he would be meeting with the brake system manufacturer to explore future improvements to the system. 

In the incident at PPR Kerinchi on August 2, eight people including a child were injured after a lift they were in, crashed from the fifth floor of the building.

-- BERNAMA