held workshop on elevator safety prompted calls for elevator and escalator maintenance courses to be introduced at technical colleges. Attendees at the workshop said the colleges and institutions should be permitted to hold courses after obtaining approval from the Technical and Vocational Training Corporation (TVTC). The workshop saw academics and engineers discuss the causes of elevator accidents and solutions to them, and produced recommendations approved by the Emir of Makkah, Prince Khaled Al-Faisal. The workshop recommended that the Civil Defense and the Saudi Council of Engineers work with the TVTC to hold courses for engineers, technicians and other employees of elevator firms and discuss the feasibility of classifying firms under comprehensive standards and involving the Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization (SASO). The workshop concluded that elevator accidents are caused by failures to conduct periodic maintenance, manipulation of contracts on the part of companies, imitation spare parts, a lack of qualified workers and misuse. Jameel Arbaeen, head of the Civil Defense in Makkah, said participants called for coordination with mayoralties and municipalities to improve monitoring, approval and supervision of elevator and escalator plans at buildings both modern and old, and the implementation of Saudi standards and the Saudi building code. They also called for making it mandatory for building owners to have a supervision card issued by SASO before elevators or escalators are used, and for procedures linking elevator firms with a 24-hour control center run by a specialized company under the supervision of the Civil Defense. The workshop also called for the media to work with the Ministry of Culture and Information and the Civil Defense's Public Relations Department to promote public awareness of elevator hazards during maintenance and the dangers of elevator misuse.
