Graig MantleState understaffing is to blame for the number of expired safety permits in many elevators on campus, according to Cal Poly Facility Services.
“The permits are supposed to be posted but the state is behind in checking due to understaffing,” director of Facility Services Mark Hunter said.
Cal Poly has no responsibility for the expired permits, Hunter said. Annual checks on the elevators are done by a state inspector.
Additionally, many of the elevators showing expired permits have actually been checked by state inspectors and are up to date. However, the new permits have yet to be printed and posted.
There are five wheelchair lifts and 45 elevators on campus, with the majority being located in the Cerro Vista residential apartments.
In order to maintain permits on all of its elevators, Cal Poly not only receives maintenance checks from the state, but also employs a private safeguarding and repair company to provide more checks for the school and fix any problems.
Cal Poly uses the elevator company Republic Elevator, Hunter said. The contract with this company gives Cal Poly a reassurance of safety in its elevators.
“(They make) multiple inspections and adjustments every year,” Hunter said.
As well as frequent checks by the private company and yearly checks by the state, Cal Poly also relies on load and emergency stop tests every few years as another precaution.
“I would rather have a private company come and inspect rather than the state,” architectural engineering senior Tyler Krehbiel said.
Cal Poly has never lost an elevator permit since providing students with the elevator and lift services. However, many students are still unhappy with the service the elevators provide.
Facility Services and the Housing and Business Services office receive a number of complaints each year from students reporting either expired permits or problems with the elevators.
“I think the state needs to be more proactive and figure out how to come to state schools more often to test,” said Dale Parker, a psychology junior and former Cerro Vista resident.
Parker was unhappy with the elevators while living in Cerro Vista because of frequent messes left by other students and the machines’ “unnatural” layout in the buildings. However, she rarely found the elevators out of order or having problems.
For disabled students, elevators provide different concerns. If a wheelchair lift or elevator is broken, students are unable to easily get around campus.
The number of elevators available on campus is also a concern. With 45 elevators accessible for wheelchair-users and those needing assistance with transport, many students must find alternative, more time-consuming routes around campus.
“Elevators are a problem, but the hills are also difficult for disabled students. The DRC (Disability Resource Center) helps though,” Krehbiel said.
However, with new buildings and constant construction on campus, Cal Poly is becoming more wheelchair accessible.