What to do if you think you’re trapped in an elevator
If you ever find yourself stuck in an elevator—as stressful as it can feel—don’t panic.
Facilities & Services has an elevator maintenance program to prevent elevator malfunctions and respond to possible entrapments swiftly.
First, what not to do
Don’t try to open the elevator doors yourself as it could be dangerous.
Never jump inside an elevator. Jumping inside an elevator can trip a security mechanism that causes the elevator to turn off immediately, requiring a mechanic to reset it. Because elevators are supposed to maintain a constant speed, any change in speed will trigger this safety feature.
Now, what to try
What seems like an entrapment may have a simple fix.
Elevator buttons can sometimes get stuck. Double-check to ensure the button you’ve tried to press is not stuck.
Many elevators on campus are not programmed to stop at certain floors, require fob access for some or all floors and/or are offline outside of programmed business hours.
To rule out these situations, press the ‘door open’ button, which is identified with <>.
If the door doesn’t open, try pressing the ‘main floor’ button. While this button is typically identified with a G for ground, L for the lobby, M for main or other characters—always look for the star label (★). The star marks the floor with the building’s closest external exit.
If the door still doesn’t open, try pressing the button of the floor you are currently on.
When pressed, the outline of the button will light up in most modern elevators. If you don’t see it, try again. But be mindful not to press buttons too roughly as that may damage them.
Press the call help button
If you tried the door open and floor buttons to no avail, it’s time to press the help button, which is usually identified with an old telephone receiver icon.
The call will connect you to a live dispatcher in the facilities call centre on the St. George campus.
The dispatcher will verify details about your situation. Tell them your name, phone number, the name of the building you’re in, and, if possible, the elevator number or TSSA number.
They will then send the closest elevator mechanic to help you as soon as possible. F&S always prioritizes a timely response to elevator entrapments.
Keep the dispatcher updated
For nearly two in three elevator entrapment calls, when the mechanic arrives on-site, the elevator is working normally, and there is no trapped rider.
If this happens, please update the call centre by calling 416-978-3000 so we can ensure mechanics are dispatched to the most urgent cases first.