Home Elevators Recalled Over Child Injury, Death Risks; 1 Fatality Reported

A company is recalling its home elevators as they pose serious injury and death risks among children. One fatality has been reported.

The issue with ThyssenKrupp Access (TKA) residential elevators lies with the space between the hoistway door and the elevator car door or gate, according to the announcement on the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) website. Children can get trapped in this space and may get injured or even die if the elevator is called to another floor while they're there.

There have been three reports of incidents related to the use of these elevators. One led to the death of a 2-year-old child in 2017 and another incident in 2010 left a 3-year-old permanently disabled.

The recall affects some 16,800 residential elevators that were sold from 1996 to 2012. It involves several models, "including Chaparral, Destiny, LEV, LEV II, LEV II Builder, Rise, Volant, Windsor, Independence, and Flexi-Lift," according to the CPSC.

Those who have the affected elevators are advised to contact the company at 800-285-9862 or to register here for a free inspection and installation of space guards "if necessary." On the other hand, those who don't want to be visited by an installer at home may be provided with inspection and installation instructions.

While the necessary steps have yet to be taken, they should ensure that children don't have access to the elevators, whether they live in the home or are just visiting.

TKA is also advising people with home elevators, even if they are not from the company, to take additional steps to make sure they are safe for children.

"Take steps to protect children even if children do not live in your home. Children have been seriously injured or killed in vacation rentals or while visiting grandparents' and other people's homes equipped with an elevator," the company noted. "Never let a child ride in an elevator without an adult, and do not let children play on or around an elevator."

The current recall is a part of a settlement related to the administrative lawsuit that the CPSC filed against the company in 2021.

"The settlement of this matter does not constitute a determination by the Commission, or an admission by TKA, that the elevators contain a defect or present a substantial product hazard," the CPSC noted.