Elevators hereafter erected or installed or
hereafter altered shall be constructed, installed and maintained in
accordance with the laws of the State of New York, in such case made
and provided, and according to such rules and regulations as may be
promulgated from time to time by the Superintendent of Buildings.
Elevators operated by hand power and of such
size, arrangement and construction that they cannot be used for the
accommodation of passengers, ordinarily known as "dumbwaiters," shall
conform to such rules as may be promulgated by the Superintendent
of Buildings to provide for their safe construction and installation.
Every passenger elevator shall be given a serial
number for purposes of identification. In the case of elevators hereafter
installed, such serial number shall be assigned when the first certificate
is issued and in the case of existing elevators, as soon as inspection
can be made for that purpose. A docket of all passenger elevators
shall be kept, giving, under the corresponding serial number, a description
of its location sufficient for identification, together with such
other information, such as type of construction, motive power, rise,
rated speed, inspection, etc., as the Superintendent of Buildings
may deem desirable. The owner or lessee or agent of either shall cause
such number, together with the most recent certificate of inspection,
to be attached or posted in the elevator car in the manner prescribed
in the rules.
It shall be unlawful for any person, other than
the operator or those necessary to handle freight, to ride on or for
the owner or lessee of any elevator knowingly to permit any person
to ride on any elevator other than a passenger elevator. Every freight
elevator shall have a notice posted conspicuously there as follows:
THIS IS NOT A PASSENGER ELEVATOR. IT IS UNLAWFUL FOR ANY PERSON, OTHER
THAN THE OPERATOR OR THOSE NECESSARY TO HANDLE FREIGHT, TO RIDE ON
THIS ELEVATOR.
Except as may be specifically provided in any
other law or ordinance, every passenger elevator, except full automatic
push-button elevators and escalators, must be in the charge of a competent
operator of reliable and industrious habits, not less than 18 years
of age, with sufficient previous experience in running an elevator
under the instruction of a competent person. No operators of amusement
devices requiring the services of operators shall be employed who
have not attained the age of 21 years and who have not secured a certificate
of competency from the Superintendent of Buildings. In case the Superintendent
shall find that the person engaged in running an elevator is incompetent
or not qualified, the owner or lessee of such elevator shall, upon
notice from the Superintendent, at once discontinue the operation
of such elevator by such operator. No person shall employ or permit
any person to operate any passenger elevator who does not possess
the qualifications prescribed therefor by this or any other law or
ordinance.
The owner or lessee or person in charge of any
passenger or freight elevator or amusement device shall immediately
notify the Superintendent of Buildings of each and every accident
to a person or damage to apparatus on, about or in connection with
such elevator or amusement device and shall afford the Superintendent
or his representative every facility for investigating such accident
or damage. The Superintendent shall, without delay and after being
notified, make an investigation and shall place on file in the Department
of Buildings a full and complete report of such investigation. Such
report shall give in detail all material facts and information available
and the cause or causes so far as they can be determined and shall
be open to public inspection at all reasonable hours. When an accident
involves the failure or destruction of any part of the construction
or operating mechanism of a passenger elevator or amusement device,
said passenger elevator or amusement device shall not be used until
it has been made safe, and the Superintendent may, if deemed necessary,
order the discontinuance of the same until a certificate has been
issued by him for its use, but no part of the damaged construction
or operating mechanism shall be removed from the premises until permission
to do so has been granted by the Superintendent or his representative.