Elevator Cable Snaps in N.Y. Building

Jan. 26, 2000
Two office workers sustained minor injuries when an Empire State Building elevator plunged 400 feet.

Two office workers at the Empire State Building in New York City experienced a frightening workplace hazard when the elevator they were aboard plunged 40 stories.

A safety system finally stopped the car on the fourth floor and the passengers were not seriously hurt.

"I thought I was going to die," Shameka Peterson said. "It was going really, really fast."

Peterson and Joe Masoraca, who work in different offices on the 44th floor, boarded the elevator Monday afternoon and pressed a button for the lobby.

"It just plunged," Peterson told the New York Post. "It was like a bungee fall. It was terrifying."

The elevator dropped about 400 feet before the safety system caught it and slowed it to a stop on the fourth floor. The elevator services the lobby and floors 41 through 55, so there was no way to exit.

Masoraca called for help on the elevator telephone.

Maintenance workers rode up in an adjacent elevator, pried open an emergency hatch and guided the pair across a beam to safety.

Peterson was treated for neck and shoulder pain and released from a hospital Masoraca has made an appointment to see a doctor.

The elevator plunge was caused by a sheared compensating cable, which adjusts the weight of the car, building spokesman Howard Rubenstein said. The elevator passed an inspection May 19, he said.

All 64 elevators in the landmark have been scheduled for inspections this week.

The 102-story building at the corner of Fifth Ave. and 34th St. opened in 1931.

It handles millions of tourists each year and thousands of people work inside.

About the Author

EHS Today Staff

EHS Today's editorial staff includes:

Dave Blanchard, Editor-in-Chief: During his career Dave has led the editorial management of many of Endeavor Business Media's best-known brands, including IndustryWeekEHS Today, Material Handling & LogisticsLogistics Today, Supply Chain Technology News, and Business Finance. In addition, he serves as senior content director of the annual Safety Leadership Conference. With over 30 years of B2B media experience, Dave literally wrote the book on supply chain management, Supply Chain Management Best Practices (John Wiley & Sons, 2021), which has been translated into several languages and is currently in its third edition. He is a frequent speaker and moderator at major trade shows and conferences, and has won numerous awards for writing and editing. He is a voting member of the jury of the Logistics Hall of Fame, and is a graduate of Northern Illinois University.

Adrienne Selko, Senior Editor: In addition to her roles with EHS Today and the Safety Leadership Conference, Adrienne is also a senior editor at IndustryWeek and has written about many topics, with her current focus on workforce development strategies. She is also a senior editor at Material Handling & Logistics. Previously she was in corporate communications at a medical manufacturing company as well as a large regional bank. She is the author of Do I Have to Wear Garlic Around My Neck?, which made the Cleveland Plain Dealer's best sellers list.

Nicole Stempak, Managing Editor:  Nicole Stempak is managing editor of EHS Today and conference content manager of the Safety Leadership Conference.

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