A PROPERTY management company in Luohu District, Sinolink Properties Limited, is facing a fine of 300,000 yuan (US$45,660) for failing to maintain around 50 elevators, the Shenzhen Special Zone Daily reported.

    The city’s market supervision commission at the beginning of this year launched a program to tackle underlying safety issues across the city.

    The commission dispatched 2,350 staffers to check on 909 companies and departments that manage equipment, including elevators. So far 426 cases have been found with 368 fixed so far.

    During the commission’s inspection, 57 cases were filed against the owners or property managers for irresponsible management of the devices. Sinolink Property Limited was fined 300,000 yuan.

    The fine is believed to be the biggest administrative punishment issued to a company that manages elevators in Shenzhen’s history, according to the commission.

    Law enforcement officers from the Luohu bureau of the municipal commission found that 50 elevators managed by the property company had not been checked from July to September of 2015, but were still in use.

    The officers ordered the property management company to suspend the usage of those elevators on the spot.

    The district market supervision bureau filed a case against Sinolink Property Limited on March 15 this year and gave out the penalty.

    Fierce competition among elevator maintenance companies has led to low prices and lax supervision, according to an officer from the municipal commission.

    To combat the problem the commission has rolled out an evaluation system to impose stricter supervision on elevator maintenance companies, the officer said.

    A point-based system will lead to better supervision and fewer accidents, said the officer.

    Nearly 200,000 people reportedly visited an education base in Shenzhen to experience virtual accidents.

    A weeklong campaign aimed at raising public awareness will kick off this month, according to the report.

    (Zhang Qian)