RESCUE OF PERSONS TRAPPED IN HDB LIFTS

Mr Liew Kok Pun asked the Minister for National Development how the Housing and Development Board plans to free persons trapped in HDB lifts as a result of a major power failure and whether the HDB will consider training Residents' Committee members to help rescue such persons.

Mr Lee Yock Suan (for the Minister for National Development): Mr Speaker, Sir, all HDB lifts are equipped with emergency devices to supply power to the lift fans and ligbts in the event of power failure. Since mid-1979, the HDB has also been installing Automatic Rescue Devices (ARD) in lifts in its estates. In the event of a power failure, the device which operates on batteries, will automatically bring the lift car to the nearest lift landing and open the lift door to release any trapped passengers. The lift will resume normal operation only when the power supply is restored. To date, 94% of HDB lifts have been installed with the ARD devices. The installation of the remaining 6% will be completed by September 1982. All new lifts are fitted with ARD.

As the ARD operates on battery power, it will take longer than normal for a lift to reach the next lift landing. However, this would not exceed 10 minutes. Persons trapped in lifts should, therefore, refrain from tampering with the lift door and controls but wait for the lift to reach the next landing. Besides installing ARD in lifts, the HDB has a lift rescue unit which operates round the clock.

Residents' Committee members can help to inform residents that if they are ever trapped in lifts, they should remain calm and wait for the ARD devices to bring them to the nearest lift landing. Aftempts to force open the lift door will cause the lift to jam. Lift rescue operations should be handled by the lift rescue unit which is properly trained and equipped for the job.