EESF Attends the Elevator U Conference at Purdue University

August 25, 2010 – The Elevator Escalator Safety Foundation (EESF) attended the Elevator U Conference at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana on June 8 – 10, 2010 where release of the new EESF / Elevator U Safety program, Rise Up Safe Rider, was announced.

EESF and Elevator U not only care about maintaining the highest standards of university facilities management, but also about safety education available to college students. These organizations wish to prevent any injury or death because of lack of elevator knowledge.

Rise Up Safe Rider is a safety kit developed for university resident assistants, student government representatives, public safety officials, on-campus elevator shops and on-campus media such as the newspaper, television and radio stations.

The safety kit, which is available by download from both www.EESF.org and www.ElevatorU.org, consists of a Planning Guide, safety posters for elevators, escalators and moving walks, a brochure, a radio public service announcement as well as an article and press release for student publications.

Rise Up Safe Rider program materials are user-friendly for malls, airports and transit systems, as they are generic in the safe riding rules with eye-catching graphics.

EESF and Elevator U have been working together for the past several years to create a campaign for the university setting. Several universities were invited to participate in the development of the program. Concepts were used from Communication classes at both Michigan State University and Purdue University. Initial components plus an entertaining video of students explaining safe riding methods were developed by Michigan State University.

EESF and Elevator U appreciate the time of those students involved, especially Kallie McConkie of Michigan State and Tony Barenie of Purdue, who led the student teams and Matt Wright (Michigan State) and Jeff Cooper (Purdue), who served as the Elevator U coordinator with the teams. EESF and Elevator U also wish to thank Matt Rupp, EESF Marketing Committee Chair, Mike Ryan, EESF Chairman and Marketing Committee member as well as Stuart Rosebrock, C. E. Electronics graphic designer, for assisting in the final stages of development for print materials.

The final program was presented at the Elevator U Conference, where each attendee was asked to take the materials to their universities, deliver the program and provide feedback.

EESF and Elevator U extend a sincere appreciation to the following committee members for their diligent work in helping to create this impressive program:

Don Ross -- EU Member -- Chairman of the Safety Committee
Christina Villa -- Resident Assistant
Ed “Jaz” Jaskowak -- EU Member  – Penn State
Jimmie Anicich – EU Member  – Arizona State
Kallie McConkie -- Michigan State Graduate
Kurt Stepaniak -- NEII Legal Council – KONE
Lou Deloreto -- NEII Safety Committee – Otis
Matt Wright – EU Member  – Michigan State
Tom Sybert – EU Member – EESF Board Liaison
Tony Barenie -- Purdue Graduate 2009
Jeff Cooper – EU Member – Purdue University
Barbara Allen -- EESF Staff liaison

National Elevator Escalator Safety Awareness Week – www.eesf.org 

A promotion of Elevator, Escalator and Moving Walk safety for the public

• Celebration takes place the second full week in November each year
• Program developed to increase elevator escalator safety education awareness
• Program introduced in 1994 and since has expanded in virtually all locations to an audience of over 12 million riders
• Program expanded to include Canada in 2006
• Detailed “How To” Planning guide is available free of charge for volunteers