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WMSC audit finds worker-safety gaps in Metro elevators, escalators; 5 findings, 2 recommendations
Summary
A Washington Metrorail Safety Commission audit of Metro’s elevator and escalator program identified five findings — including workers entering pits with standing water and gaps in required training — and two recommendations. WMATA must submit corrective action plans by Nov. 14, the commission said.
The Washington Metrorail Safety Commission released an audit on Oct. 15 that found Metro’s elevator and escalator program has five formal findings and two recommendations tied to worker safety, equipment calibration and inspection documentation.
The audit, presented to commissioners by John O'Donnell of WMSC staff, said auditors observed elevator mechanics entering pits that contained standing water while electrical circuits remained active and that personnel did not always perform required voltage testing before entering. "Do not work in a pit with standing water," O'Donnell quoted from the 2020 Elevator Industry Field Employee Safety Handbook while describing the hazard.
Why it matters: elevator pits with live electrical circuits and standing water pose a clear electrocution risk to maintenance personnel and indicate gaps between formal procedure and field practice. The commission said three of the five audit findings relate directly to worker safety and that Metro must file corrective action plans addressing each finding by Nov. 14 under the WMSC program standard.
Most important findings and evidence - Job hazard analyses not reviewed in the field: auditors observed four work activities (including preventive maintenance and heavy repair) but did not see staff review the job hazard analysis documents on-site; in one instance personnel said they conducted the review by phone, which does not meet the procedure. - Calibration tracking gaps: Metro lacks a proactive system to monitor calibration expiration for tools such as dynamometers and torque wrenches, risking use of out-of-calibration equipment. - Entering pits with standing water: auditors reported personnel entering pits with knee- or waist-deep water without voltage testing and without specific PPE for water intrusion. - Fall protection training gaps: the audit found fall protection training was required by job hazard analyses but included in the training matrix for only one position; other mechanics and supervisors lacked required fall protection training. - On-site certificate availability: across 14 stations visited in D.C., Maryland and Virginia, auditors could not obtain elevator inspection certificates on-site as required by local jurisdictions; notices directed the public to station kiosks, but staff could not produce certificates.
Recommendations and Metro response: the audit issued two recommendations, including one to review and correct incomplete job descriptions and another to address the use of multiple data systems that create transcription errors between field notes and Maximo work orders. The report highlights positive practices — timely PPE replacement, a formal job hazard analysis program, and use of downtime and reliability data for capital planning — but emphasizes the need for consistent procedure compliance. WMSC staff said the full audit report is posted at wmsc.gov under Oversight.
Next steps: WMATA has until Nov. 14 to submit corrective action plans for each finding. The WMSC said it will review CAP submissions and monitor implementation through inspections and future audits. The commission noted it will continue on-site verifications to confirm corrective measures are implemented.
Ending: The WMSC will track Metro’s corrective actions and report back in subsequent public meetings; auditors stressed that several findings were worker-safety focused and require timely remedial steps.
