My Alerts The following are the STM’s comments about the report by coroner Paul G. Dionne who investigated the accidental death of Mrs. Raima Rharouity at Fabre station last January 30.
Montréal, October 30, 2014 – The following are the STM’s comments about the report by coroner Paul G. Dionne who investigated the accidental death of Mrs. Raima Rharouity at Fabre station last January 30.
- The STM regularly and rigorously performs maintenance on all its escalators. Indeed, its current maintenance program requires that each of the 296 escalators in the métro system be inspected monthly, in addition to undergoing two major reviews each year.
- The escalator at Fabre station was inspected on January 23, 2014, as part of the routine monthly inspections, and before that, on November 7, 2013, as part of the major review process, in accordance with Régie du bâtiment du Québec requirements.
- Fabre station sees over 2.3 million entries annually. For that particular escalator, the STM had previously logged two incidents involving customers in 2012 and another two in 2013. Twice, a transit user had taken a fall, and twice, clothing had gotten snagged.
- The STM fully cooperated with inquiries by the coroner and by the Régie du bâtiment du Québec.
- Out of concern for continued improvement, the STM has already moved to improve its escalator maintenance program, prior to the coroner’s report, and developed a campaign, currently underway, to raise awareness about using escalators safely.
- The STM agrees with the coroner’s recommendations which, incidentally, were similar to those the STM had presented to the coroner.
- Lastly, the STM wishes to once again extend its deepest sympathy to Mrs. Rharouity’s family and friends.
