KONE Sustainability Report 2017

KONE 2017 | SUSTAINABILITY REPORT Providing the most sustainable offering 28 END USER SAFETY AND ACCESSIBILITY Millions of people use elevators, escalators and automatic building door equipment every day. The safety of those people, and the safety of our employees, is our first pri- ority. It is our strong belief that all incidents are preventable, and we want everyone to return home safe at the end of each day. A proactive approach Safety is an integral part of our strategy and we work to develop a culture where people know why and how to act safely and actively promote safe practices. We build a strong safety mindset among our own employees, our partners, and the general public. By shifting from a reactive to proactive safety approach, we have suc- cessfully reduced workplace and equip- ment user injuries. Safety is a joint effort Safety is a joint effort that involves every- one, from technology and maintenance service providers to building owners and equipment users. We work closely with our customers to help them recognize and deal with situations that could lead to safety risks. Building owners and maintenance service providers are responsible for making sure equipment is professionally maintained and kept in good condition. Building owners should, for example, inform ser- vice providers if they identify any recog- nizable hazards, such as abnormal noises or debris on the equipment. Everyone who uses an elevator or esca- lator needs to be conscious of their own behavior by for example making sure to hold the handrail and hand of any young children when riding escalators, refraining from blocking closing elevator doors, and stepping away from the doors when they are opening or closing. Active contribution in standard development The safety requirements of elevators, escalators, and automatic building doors are largely determined by national and international safety codes and stand- ards. KONE is a strong contributor to the development of codes and standards that aim to further improve equipment safety. We also promote safety through our involvement in industry trade associa- tions around the world. Our experts have, for example, been involved in the plan- ning and development of the main safety standards such, such as EN 81-20:2014 and EN115-1:2017 for elevators and esca- lators respectively. The aging of urban infrastructure sys- tems in cities around the world is a major concern for our industry. Many coun- tries have adopted strict standards for improving safety through modernization of the existing equipment. Elevator modernization enhances safety, for example, by improving levelling accuracy to prevent tripping and falling, adding electronic sensors to doors to pre- vent collision with persons, and providing a voice link to the service center to assist passengers, in case of emergencies. As a technology provider, KONE man- ufactures equipment that meets applicable codes and standards, and often includes additional safety features that exceed the regulatory requirements. Accessibility As populations age, the demand for acces- sible, safe and convenient People Flow® solutions increases. Buildings and transpor- tation hubs need to be designed and built in a way that enables people with impaired mobility to move around easily. With our elevator solutions, we also help improve accessibility. For example, increased ele- vator cabin size improves building access for people with baby strollers and those using wheelchairs. We believe that it is our obligation to contribute to the standardi- zation development and improving safety and accessibility for all. 5 ways to improve elevator safety • Adequate lighting prevents accidents and makes people feel safer • A two-way voice communication system improves safety and passengers’ peace of mind • Interior doors and automatic landing doors prevent accidents and improve accessibility • Accurate stopping prevents people from stumbling on the door sill • An emergency system includes an alarm with two way phone and an emergency power supply 5 ways to improve accessibility • By modernizing an elevator, the space inside the car can be increased by 50% • Wide-opening doors make entry and exit easier for passengers using a wheelchair or pushing a stroller • Accessories such as handrails and mirrors provide support and help to improve visibility • Braille signalization and audio announcements help people with hearing and vision impairments • An elevator can be installed in a building previously without one, in the stairwell or attached to an outside wall