On the Job: Delaware Elevator Pt. 2

Last week 47 ABC was at the headquarters of Delaware Elevator where we put together a part for an elevator, we learned the basics, and we tried welding. But this week we’re in Ocean City to work on an actual site.

47 ABC spoke with Director of Delaware Elevator David Smarte and he says, “Today we’re going to go to two jobs, we’re going to be here at this hotel construction site and then were going to show you how to adjust door locks what a platform looks like, some of the components you saw last week we’re going to show you how they all fit in together.”

But before doing anything, we had to meet our boss for the day! Lindsay Meeks-Barbely. Meeks-Barbely, who is following in the footsteps of her father and CEO of Delaware Elevator Charles Meeks Junior, is 3 years into her CT program to become a certified mechanic.

Our first job, adjusting door locks! Meeks-Barbely says, “It’s really important that all these door locks are adjusted properly because that’s what keeps the elevator running. If its out of adjustment there’s actually a contact in there and if that breaks then the car will shut down, it’s a safety mechanism.”

But before we could do that, we had to take the dust cover panels off. These are there to ensure no debris get into the locks. After that, Meeks-Barbely had me loosen the screws to move the door lock over.

Next, it was time to move on to another site to work on another elevator. The brand new Seacrets Distillery. Delaware Elevator installed a hydraulic elevator there, which is a different type of elevator than the last job and there is a whole room dedicated to it. Meeks-Barbely says we’re here to inspect it.

Once on top of the elevator, you have to push another safety stop switch. After that’s done, you can close the doors and start to work! Meeks-Barbely says when you have multiple people in the car, it’s always important that you vocalize when you’re making the elevator go up or down.

Meeks-Barbely says, “When we do the doors we kind of just open them up we make sure that they’re moving freely because a lot of things will get stuck in the sills especially down here in Ocean City sea shells, stones, sand, anything.” She also says its important that the rails that the elevators run along stay lubricated with oil. After oiling, our inspection was complete.

Next week, 47 ABC heads to Ocean City to be a jet ski instructor.