DECEMBER 8, 2008 — In the United States, the Consumer Products Safety Commission estimated that nearly 11,000 people received treatment in hospitals last year for injuries resulting from riding escalators.  The CPSC estimates that escalators carry 90 billion riders each year. There are more than 30,000 escalators in the United States. Escalators must abide by standards set forth by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers.

Adults falling and losing their balance while riding escalators can result in serious injuries. Other accidents happen when clothing or limbs become entrapped in moving escalator parts and gaps along the side of moving escalator steps. Entrapment accidents can result in severe injury and amputations.

A number of people wearing lightweight foam sandals, such as Crocs and other similar shoes, have suffered serious injuries in escalator accidents. In September 2007, MSNBC reported that soft-soled shoes like Crocs are especially susceptible to entrapment injuries, particularly with children.

A Pennsylvania woman filed suit in December with the Colorado-based Crocs company, claiming the company knew the shoes were dangerous on escalators and didn’t warn consumers.  The woman’s six-year old son was injured in an escalator accident at the National Aquarium in Baltimore in April.

Beginning in 2009, Crocs has said it will add safety warning tags to its shoes.