Being able to open an elevator hoistway door doesn’t mean it’s safe to do so.
Elevator door unlocking devices and escutcheons can provide authorized personnel with access to the hoistway — something that can be extremely important during an emergency.
But there is a significant difference between having the tool to open the door and having the training to understand what happens when you do.
When a hoistway door is opened, the elevator car may not be at that floor.
You may instead be standing in front of an open elevator shaft.
The car could be above or below you. Equipment may still be energized. The elevator may be capable of movement. There may be multiple cars in the same hoistway, and the conditions encountered can vary considerably depending on the type and age of the equipment.
This is why elevator access during emergency response should never be viewed as simply “put the key in and open the door.”
Proper training should give responders an understanding of the elevator system they're interacting with, the hazards that can exist inside the hoistway, how to establish a safe condition, and when accessing the hoistway is — and isn't — appropriate.
Atlantic Canadian requirements surrounding hoistway-door unlocking devices are particularly relevant to the fire service.
But making an elevator accessible to emergency personnel is only half of the equation.
The other half is making sure the people accessing it understand the hazards on the other side of that door.
A small escutcheon can provide access to a very unforgiving environment.
Training matters.