Safety Measures for Subway Wheelchair Lift are Urgently Needed
with the Rise in the Number of Power Wheelchairs Used by People with Disabilities

Most of the wheelchair lifts installed in the subway stations around the country seem unsafe for power wheelchairs which are used by an increasing number of people with disabilities these days. Also, the management of the facilities seems, overall, insufficient or poor, which is demonstrated by many unworkable safety switches, emergency stop buttons and interphones, broken hall buttons, and damaged manuals.

The Korea Consumer Agency (KCA) conducted a study over the safety status of wheelchair lifts in 31 subway stations around the nation, and said that the safety conditions of 20 stations (64.5%) were poor, which requires urgent corrective measures.

□ Power Wheelchairs CANNOT Board Old Model Wheelchair Lifts   

As the government started to provide subsidies for purchasing power wheelchairs in June, 2005, the number of wheelchairs used by handicapped people has been rapidly increasing. However, 89.7% of wheelchair lifts currently installed in the subway stations across the nation are designed for manual wheelchairs, which means that people using power wheelchairs cannot use the old model wheelchairs.

Among 1,146 wheelchair lifts in 396 subway stations, 1,027 (89.7%) were usable  only for manual wheelchairs, while 119 (103%) were designed for power wheelchairs.

New wheelchair lifts have larger boarding plates than those of old models so that power wheelchair users can board, and anti-fall stoppers to prevent them from falling off from the lifts. Because there are no anti-fall stoppers on the old model lifts, occasionally fall accidents occur.

□ Poor Management Resulting in Breakdowns and Malfunctions

According to the KCA’s study result, 17 out of 31 stations have been poorly managing wheelchair lifts. For example, safety switches of wheelchair lifts in 9 stations didn’t work properly, while lifts in 4 stations didn’t work at all. Also, 2 wheelchair lifts suddenly stopped during operation, and emergency stop buttons didn’t work in 2 stations. Some stations had broken interphones or unworkable alarm bells, and some had damaged and unreadable lift manuals.

< Damaged and Unreadable Manuals >

In 8 stations, the stairs where wheelchair lifts had been installed were too narrow, posing a risk of clash with passengers during operation.

Based on the study result, the KCA is planning to ask the relevant authorities Δ to exchange the outmoded wheelchair lifts with new ones equipped with anti-fall stoppers, Δ to install more elevators for disabled people, and Δ to strengthen the facility management. Also, the Agency asked lift users to adhere to the safety rules in order to prevent accidents caused by mere carelessness or clumsiness of lift operation.

Sep 1, 2007 [Consumer Safety Department]