Big Sight Escalator Extremely Overloaded, Causing It to Reverse
Further investigation into the Escalator Disaster At Wonder Festival has revealed that the esclator was overloaded beyond its braking capacity, which is the reason why it slided backwards under gravity after making an emergency stop.
According to manufacturer Otis Elevators Co., at the time of the accident the power cut out, its disc brakes engaged and the escalator made an emergency stop as designed. However, the brakes are designed to handle a total weight of 9.3 tons, or 120 kilograms per step.
With 3 or 4 people on each step, according to reports, the brakes were apparently unable to take the load, and the escalator slipped backwards.
Event staff said that after they pressed the emergency stop button, the escalator stopped running backwards. The load may have been reduced slightly as people got off at the bottom, allowing the escalator to stop. Police are continuing to investigate.
Source: Mainichi Japan
I wonder how come 3-4 people can squeeze into a single step on the escalator? Are they all really thin folks?
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They aren’t really thin, but with the people rushing in to get into the Wonfes, they would squeeze into anything. Well, japanese are fine with packed trains and buses anyway.
I wonder at the accuracy of this report. They could be hiding their own ineptness of maintaining the escalator and blaming it on overloading. Still, it could happen.
why are police investigating it?! its just one of those things u lol at and then leave alone
Mmm.. How I would love to squeeze onto an escalator with women surrounding me