PRESCHOOL children under the age of 6 and other physically-challenged persons should be accompanied by an adult when using elevators in Shenzhen, according to a regulation that has been passed at the 42nd meeting of the Standing Committee of the Sixth Shenzhen Municipal People’s Congress on Tuesday.

As the ownership, usage and management of an elevator involve different entities, the regulation delimits the liability of management to prevent the different entities from shirking their responsibilities when an incident occurs. It defines the rights and liabilities of management in elevator usage and in an accident.

Rescuers must arrive at the scene within 30 minutes after receiving a report that people have been trapped inside an elevator, according to the regulations to be effective from Oct. 1.

The elevator management firms are required to make contact with maintenance companies within three minutes after they receive emergency calls or find people trapped inside an elevator.

Management teams are required to have regular rehearsals and contingency plans for an emergency, and to organize rescuers that arrive at the scene within 30 minutes.

The regulation also extends the warranty period of manufacturers from two years to three from the date of installing security checks or five years upon the release date from the factory.

The regulation requires elevators in public areas to use a two-circuit power supply system and have a standby power system and operation monitoring system. The manufacturers or their agents are responsible for maintenance.

The lawmakers also passed a regulation to prevent bullying among school students by requiring primary and secondary schools to establish an anonymous reporting system.

Under the mechanism, schools should promptly communicate with parents and handle the complaints immediately. Public security authorities are required to set up an information sharing system with schools and handle bullying that happens off campus.  (Han Ximin)