Technical Safety BC is reminding residents to follow cautionary signs when using escalators after releasing a report on the November 2024 death of a person who experienced head trauma after falling down an escalator in a Greater Victoria shopping centre.
On Nov. 24, 2024, a patron using a mobility walker with about 25 pounds of groceries entered a downward-moving escalator at the shopping centre – appearing to be Saanich's Uptown Centre based on photos in the report.
"At the initial descent of the escalator, the customer's mobility walker tips forward and begins to fall," noted the report. "The customer attempts to grab and hold his mobility walker, however, the person loses balance and falls with groceries ejecting and mobility walker fully tipping as the patron falls and his head makes contact with the escalator stairs resulting in an injury."
The shopper died a few days later after sustaining "a serious head injury" as a result of the incident.
The report noted that the escalator was functioning normally, and weather was not a factor in the fall; and there were metal posts placed near the entrance of the elevator to block people from bringing "bulky items" on the escalator.
There were also signs posted, highlighting that no wheelchairs, strollers, shopping carts and mobility scooters should be used on the escalator, and there was an arrow pointing to the alternative elevator for those with bulky items.
The report notes that the causes and contributing factor to the incident were the shopper bypassing the safety posts, which had a big enough gap for the walker to fit, failing to observe the posted warnings, and the weight of the groceries made holding the walker difficult.
"This incident reminds us of the importance of following caution signs and respecting that posts are put in place to dissuade members of the public from boarding escalators with walkers, strollers, scooters, and other equipment that can affect a safe ride," noted an overview of the incident.
