TOPIC 19: Skirt brushes are not decoration, but they are not a safety guarantee either.
In escalators and moving walks, skirt brushes are often misunderstood.
Some people think they are there to “close the gap.”
Others think that if brushes are installed, the entrapment risk is solved.
Both are wrong.
Here’s what skirt brushes actually do:
1- They guide passengers away from the skirt/step interface: The brush creates a light physical reminder: keep your shoes, clothes, and bags away from the side.
2- They reduce contact with the skirt panel: By discouraging passengers from standing too close to the side, they help reduce friction contact and side rubbing.
3- They help reduce entrapment risk, but they do not eliminate it: Loose shoelaces, soft shoes, long dresses/abayas, children’s feet, and luggage can still create risk if passengers stand too close to the skirt line.
Common misinterpretation:
“Brush installed = safe.”
No.
Brush installed means one risk-reduction measure is present. The actual safety depends on:
- Correct brush position
- Correct stiffness and condition
- No missing/damaged sections
- Correct skirt/step gap
- Clean and smooth skirt panels
- Proper step alignment
- Passenger behavior
Maintenance checks that matter:
- Are brushes missing, loose, broken, or flattened?
- Is the brush height/position still effective?
- Are there sharp edges or damaged brackets?
- Is there evidence of rubbing, trapped debris, or repeated contact?
- Is the skirt/step interface still within an acceptable condition?
Practical takeaway:
Skirt brushes are a guidance and risk-reduction feature, not a magic shield.
They help passengers stay away from the danger zone.
But the real safety comes from good design, correct adjustment, proper maintenance, and passenger awareness.
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