Elevator Technician how-to

How to Respond to an Elevator Entrapment

Getting passengers out safely matters more than speed.

Updated By the Career Education Institute Curriculum Team
Quick answer

Getting passengers out safely matters more than speed. In short: talk; determine; remove, then complete the remaining steps below.

Step by step

  1. Talk with passengers by phone or intercom and reassure them.

  2. Determine the car’s location and status.

  3. Remove power to the elevator following company procedures.

  4. Move the car to a landing using approved methods.

  5. Open doors with the proper tools and help passengers out.

  6. Find and correct the cause before returning the elevator to service.

Safety reminders for elevator technicians

  • Follow lockout/tagout before working on equipment
  • Use fall protection in hoistways and on car tops
  • Never work under a car without proper blocking
  • Treat all circuits as energized until tested

Traction elevator · Hydraulic elevator · Machine-room-less (MRL) · Hoistway · Pit · Controller: see the full elevator technician glossary.

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