The Minato Ward 2006 elevator accident was an incident in June 2006 which shook Japanese public confidence in the safety of elevators around the country. In June 2006, in Minato, Tokyo, a 16-year old high school student was killed by an elevator maintained by SEC Elevator Co Ltd. He was backing out of it with his bicycle when the elevator suddenly rose with the doors still open, causing asphyxiation. Investigations began relating to this fatality.
In the process of this investigation, elevator safety in Japan came under question, with media attention focused on Schindler Group, the Swiss based elevator manufacturer. Of the 8,800 Schindler elevators installed in Japan, 85 have trapped people.
Following the incident, the Minato Ward public housing corporation replaced all five Schindler elevators in the condominium with elevators from another manufacturer.
Read more about Minato Ward 2006 Elevator Accident: Responsibility, Progress of Accident Investigation, Wider Concern
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