# Do you ever check out the inspection date on elevator certificates? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 11, 2009, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-ever-check-out-the-inspection-date-on-elevator-certificates/485359 "2009-02-11T13:51:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2009, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-ever-check-out-the-inspection-date-on-elevator-certificates/485359/1 "2009-02-11T13:51:14Z")
I do. And I often notice they’re expired. It’s not like elevators cause a lot of accidents from lack of maintenance, as cars and other things do, but when you’re in an elevator, you’re completely at the mercy of this machine which is taking you really high up in the air. (I work on an eighteenth floor.) So it’s not surprising that, in California, the agency responsible for overseeing inspection is the same one that oversees the things you ride in at Six Flags, California Adventure and ski lifts: [The Elevator, Ride and Tramway Unit of the Division of Occupational Safety and Health of the California Department of Industrial Relations.](http://www.dir.ca.gov/dosh/aroffices.htm) (By the time you’ve told someone where you work, they’ve fallen asleep.) What does it mean that the certificate is expired? In Florida, this elevator inspector group show these pictures of elevators that actually passed inspection. (The [“Elevator Maintenance Hall of Shame.”](http://www.elevatorinspector.com/elevator-hall-of-shame.htm) Notice the electronic device that is made to do nothing other than measure elevator speed.) Regardless of whether the certificate is up-to-date, I always feel queasy going up any more than four floors. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2009, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-ever-check-out-the-inspection-date-on-elevator-certificates/485359/2 "2009-02-11T14:06:49Z")
Sometimes. I’ve yet to find one with a lapsed date, fortunately. ---
**Author:** ![Anne\_Neville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Anne\_Neville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anne_Neville)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2009, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-ever-check-out-the-inspection-date-on-elevator-certificates/485359/3 "2009-02-11T14:16:41Z")
I do, because I’m generally bored when riding in an elevator. ---
**Author:** ![Sigmagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2009, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-ever-check-out-the-inspection-date-on-elevator-certificates/485359/4 "2009-02-11T14:42:46Z")
I do, and I looked to see who signed it, too. ---
**Author:** ![Alienhand](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8edcca/32.png) [@Alienhand](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alienhand)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2009, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-ever-check-out-the-inspection-date-on-elevator-certificates/485359/5 "2009-02-11T16:05:05Z")
Yes I do but Gov. Charlie Christ really wants me to take the stairs. (They are typically renewed automatically if you have a maintenance contract in place) ---
**Author:** ![Litoris](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9f8e36/32.png) [@Litoris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Litoris)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2009, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-ever-check-out-the-inspection-date-on-elevator-certificates/485359/6 "2009-02-11T17:02:25Z")
Yes. And I hate to admit it, but I also look at the weight limit when there are more than 4 people on it with me, do mental calculations (yes, I am one of those freaks that could work the guess your weight booths and win pretty consistently) to decide if I want off or not. I’m a freak, admittedly. Unlike **elfkin477** , I \*have \*found a couple with lapsed dates. I took the stairs. ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2009, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-ever-check-out-the-inspection-date-on-elevator-certificates/485359/7 "2009-02-11T17:03:29Z")
I look all the time. I used to ride many, many elevators in a large number of buildings on my company’s campus, and usually half were out of date. ---
**Author:** ![Misnomer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misnomer/32/14897_2.png) [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2009, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-ever-check-out-the-inspection-date-on-elevator-certificates/485359/8 "2009-02-11T17:04:16Z")
Sometimes, but usually I just look to see who the manufacturer is. At my old job I used to ride in Schindler’s lift. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![NicePete](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ee7513/32.png) [@NicePete](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NicePete)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2009, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-ever-check-out-the-inspection-date-on-elevator-certificates/485359/9 "2009-02-11T17:16:05Z")
I do, almost everytime. Mainly because I used to be the General Counsel for the state agency which inspects elevators and I know the people who sign the certificates. And I know how long it’s been since they’ve changed jobs. So if I see certain names on the certificate it gives me pause. Not enough to make me take the stairs, but pause… ---
**Author:** ![caveman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/caveman/32/7242_2.png) [@caveman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/caveman)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2009, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-ever-check-out-the-inspection-date-on-elevator-certificates/485359/10 "2009-02-11T18:41:27Z")
I noticed that our elevators at work got a new, very prominently displayed certificate sometime last year, with an expiration date of Decemeber 13. As the date neared, I wondered if it would be updated right before or right after the day. Well, It’s February 11, and the old certificates are still there. Maybe the inspectors are spread too thin? ---
**Author:** ![Labtrash](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/labtrash/32/528_2.png) [@Labtrash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labtrash)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2009, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-ever-check-out-the-inspection-date-on-elevator-certificates/485359/11 "2009-02-11T19:13:22Z")
I love how they lump elevators & amusment park rides into the same category here, too. ---
**Author:** ![mnemosyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c4cdca/32.png) [@mnemosyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mnemosyne)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2009, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-ever-check-out-the-inspection-date-on-elevator-certificates/485359/12 "2009-02-11T19:35:28Z")
> [@caveman](#): > > I noticed that our elevators at work got a new, very prominently displayed certificate sometime last year, with an expiration date of Decemeber 13. As the date neared, I wondered if it would be updated right before or right after the day. Well, It’s February 11, and the old certificates are still there. Maybe the inspectors are spread too thin? I assume that, and delays in getting the paperwork filled out, printing the certificate, mailing it off to the building owner/maintenance people and getting someone to bother swapping the old one for the new. I really do tend to give the benefit of the doubt on these things. Unless it’s significantly out of date - like a year or more. Then… well, I don’t take the stairs, but I do get a little worried! ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2009, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-ever-check-out-the-inspection-date-on-elevator-certificates/485359/13 "2009-02-11T20:07:42Z")
> [@caveman](#): > > I noticed that our elevators at work got a new, very prominently displayed certificate sometime last year, with an expiration date of Decemeber 13. As the date neared, I wondered if it would be updated right before or right after the day. Well, It’s February 11, and the old certificates are still there. Maybe the inspectors are spread too thin? There’s also the chance the it was inspected and the certificate renewed and it’s sitting in an envelope on someone’s desk because he thinks it’s a bill and hasn’t gotten around to opening it yet. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Woo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7c8e57/32.png) [@Dr.Woo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Woo)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2009, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-ever-check-out-the-inspection-date-on-elevator-certificates/485359/14 "2009-02-11T22:14:59Z")
If it’s written (in English), I’ll read it. It’s probably confirmation bias, but I swear the expired certificates outnumber the current ones by about 5:1, and I’m not talking like expired by a month or so - it’s years, in some cases. It’s odd to me because most of the expired certs are in my employer’s elevators, and they’re usually really anal about that kind of stuff (employee health and safety and avoiding lawsuits and stuff). ---
**Author:** ![Number](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/number/32/242_2.png) [@Number](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Number)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2009, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-ever-check-out-the-inspection-date-on-elevator-certificates/485359/15 "2009-02-12T01:31:41Z")
I always look. I work in a historic state-owned building and one elevator’s certificate was _five years_ out of date. I reported it to the appropriate agency twice, by email and voicemail, but nothing was done. I avoided using it unless I absolutely had to. Then a few months later there was a notice posted that the elevator had broken down and was being repaired. I hope nobody got stuck in the thing. ---
**Author:** ![Snnipe\_70E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5a626/32.png) [@Snnipe\_70E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snnipe_70E)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2009, 6:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-ever-check-out-the-inspection-date-on-elevator-certificates/485359/16 "2009-02-12T06:46:13Z")
In California if it is out of date usually it is because the inspector has not been around, it is the states responsibality. You can call and ask for an inspection and you will be told when an inspector is avable he will be out in a month or two or longer. At one time my elevators were out of date by 11 months. I called to get them inspected and was told that it was OK becacuse there were only a few inspectors and we would get inspected in 12 to 18 months. When I asked for a letter on state letter head stating the lack of inspection was the states fault then I was passes on to an supervisor. He made an apointment to inspect 2 elevators and 4 escalators the next week. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2009, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-ever-check-out-the-inspection-date-on-elevator-certificates/485359/17 "2009-02-12T13:00:46Z")
I look at them if I’m in an unfamiliar state and I can’t remember who the governor is. ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2009, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-ever-check-out-the-inspection-date-on-elevator-certificates/485359/18 "2009-02-12T17:12:12Z")
The ones in my building expired back in December. And the elevators seem pretty chancy to begin with - 3 of my coworkers have seperately suffered “unintentional entrapments” (which is the building management term for “getting stuck in a elevator”) since we moved into this building 18 months ago. ---
**Author:** ![Roland\_Orzabal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c2a13f/32.png) [@Roland\_Orzabal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roland_Orzabal)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2009, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-ever-check-out-the-inspection-date-on-elevator-certificates/485359/19 "2009-02-12T17:24:24Z")
I do, but only because I noticed a few years back that all of Roanoke apparently uses the same elevator inspector, and judging from the signature on the inspections forms, he or she is apparently named “H. McDildo”. (I’m quite serious; I’ll snap a pic next time I’m in an elevator.) Most of them are up-to-date; I haven’t seen one that was expired by more than a month or two. I generally my chances anyway.