Did you know that roughly 80% of New Year’s resolutions fail in the first two weeks? Experts attribute this to one simple fact: Making big change overnight is simply not sustainable. NEII has been helping drive big change in the elevator industry since its inception in 1934, thanks in part to the safety commitment NEII shares with our industry partners. Together, we have helped make elevators the safest form of transportation in the world because every year, we resolve to do even better than we did the previous year.
For 2025, NEII is making a few safety resolutions that we will stick to in our never-ending quest to improve rider and worker safety.
First, NEII is going to continue working with jurisdictions to modernize codes and standards that includes the adoption of the most recent model elevator safety codes – ASME A17.1/CSA B44 and International Building Code (IBC) – across North America. The goal is to ensure the newer code editions, published every three years, incorporate changes that reflect the most recent safety best practices. Safety enhancements incorporated into the 2022 edition of ASME A17.1/CSA B44 currently under consideration for adoption by Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJs) include hoistway illumination, cybersecurity and flood operation. Additional safety measures expected for the 2025 edition include pit guarding, counterweight warning system as well as protection of openings in the floor of the overhead machine room.
Next, NEII will continue advocating for industry licensing across North America. One of the most important components of a modern elevator program is elevator mechanic licensing as it establishes minimum standards for qualifications, education and training that can be relied upon by both the riding public and industry workers. The installation, maintenance, and repair of elevators, escalators, and moving walks are highly complex undertakings that require technical skills and demand a high level of expertise. Only eleven states have yet to adopt licensing requirements for elevator mechanics, and NEII will vigilantly focus on those states to advance licensing standards.
Finally, NEII will continue to strengthen is key industry partnerships to help create a safer environment for the riding public and industry workforce. These efforts will include closely collaborating with the Elevator Industry Safety Partners (EISP), an Alliance between OSHA’s 10 regional offices and the following organizations:
- Elevator Industry Work Preservation Fund (EIWPF)
- International Union of Elevator Constructors (IUEC)
- Elevator Contractors of America (ECA)
- National Association of Elevator Contractors (NAEC)
- National Elevator Industry Educational Program (NEIEP)
- NEII
NEII is also collaborating with members and partner organizations including NEIEP, NAEC, IUEC, and Elevator World on the Elevator Industry Field Employee Safety Handbook. The latest edition, due out in the first quarter of 2025, will include new additions including a pre-start checklist for re-roping, as well valuable information around mental health and wellbeing.
The year 2025 is shaping up to be a big year for elevator safety and NEII and its partners remain dedicated to preventing incidents and injuries by improving safety codes, creating comprehensive safety resources, and developing safe workplace best practices. Here’s to a happy and safe New Year for all.
About NEII
NEII is the premier trade association representing the global leaders in the building transportation industry. Its members install, maintain, and/or manufacture elevators, escalators, moving walks, and other building transportation products. NEII‘s membership includes the six major international companies – Fujitec America, Inc., KONE, Inc., Mitsubishi Electric US, Inc., Otis Elevator Company, Schindler Elevator Corporation, TK Elevator and several other companies across the country. Collectively, the NEII members represent approximately eighty-five percent of the total hours worked within the elevator and escalator industry, employ more than 25,000 people in the U.S. and indirectly support hundreds of thousands of American jobs in affiliate industries.
For more information about NEII, please visit www.neii.org.