Elderly Elevator Safety Accidents More Than Double Annually... 'Safety Alert' Issued

A Total of 1,507 Cases Reported in the Last 5 Years
646 Cases Last Year, a 124.3% Increase
Highest Incidence Among Ages 85-89

The Korea Consumer Agency has issued a safety advisory as safety accidents involving elderly people have increased in elevator facilities such as escalators and elevators.

According to the Consumer Agency on the 13th, from 2020 to September of this year, there have been a total of 1,507 safety accidents involving elevator facilities reported to the Consumer Injury Surveillance System (CISS) for elderly people aged 65 and over, showing a more than twofold increase every year since 2021 (124 cases). In particular, last year, 646 cases were reported, a 124.3% increase (358 cases) compared to the previous year.

As a result of analyzing the frequency of elevator facility safety accidents per 10,000 people by life cycle from children aged 6 and over to elderly people aged 65 and over, the elderly showed a significantly higher rate of 0.68 cases compared to other age groups. Especially, when divided into 5-year age groups, the frequency of safety accidents among the elderly was highest in the 85-89 age group, with 1.22 cases per 10,000 people.

Among the reported safety accidents, 91.8% (1,384 cases) were fall accidents caused by slipping or falling. 85.8% (1,293 cases) of the accidents occurred in escalator-related facilities. The main injury site was the "head and face," accounting for more than half of all safety accidents at 54.7% (827 cases), mainly involving symptoms such as lacerations, swelling, and bruises.

The Consumer Agency and the Korea Safety Living Association urged elderly people to hold the handrails firmly when using escalators to maintain balance and to avoid leaning on or striking elevator doors to prevent safety accidents in elevator facilities.

The Consumer Agency stated, "In addition to safety accidents in elevator facilities, to prevent frequent safety accidents involving the elderly, we plan to distribute the ‘Safe Consumption Life Guide for Seniors’ containing related safety rules so that elderly people and their caregivers can learn and comply with them."