T pushing new PSA after fatal escalator incident

MBTA is raising awareness of escalator emergency stop buttons after a fatal accident at Davis Station in February. Surveillance footage shows a rider struggling to free himself after falling at the bottom of an escalator. MBTA officials said his clothing became stuck in the machinery, and a Red Line worker stopped the escalator and summoned emergency crews more than 20 minutes after the fall. The rider died just over a week later. MBTA leadership expressed condolences and emphasized safety and rebuilding a safety culture. The agency is reviewing the incident and considering mitigations. MBTA has circulated a video warning about clothing caught in escalator steps and is now working on a public service announcement focused on emergency stop buttons.

"Surveillance footage shows several riders passing Steven McCluskey as he struggles to free himself from a Davis Station escalator early on Feb. 27. T officials said McCluskey's clothing became stuck in the machinery after he fell at the bottom of the escalator shortly before 5 a.m. A Red Line worker finally brought the escalator to a stop and summoned emergency crews more than 20 minutes after McCluskey fell, but the 40-year-old father of two died just over a week later."

"Addressing the MBTA Board of Directors Thursday, General Manager Phil Eng expressed his "deepest sympathies" to McCluskey's family and stressed the importance of maintaining safe transit. "Safety is the number one priority, and rebuilding the culture is something that we focus on dearly," Eng said, later adding, "This is something that we continue to work on, to make sure that all of our users can travel safely and get to their destinations.""

"MBTA Chief Safety Officer Tim Lesniak said in a subcommittee meeting last week that the T only recently became aware that McCluskey ultimately died of his injuries. "We are continuing to review the incident to work through potential mitigations as we see what actually occurred," he told the Safety, Health & Environment Subcommittee. While the T has already circulated a video warning riders that their clothes could become caught in escalator steps, Lesniak said the agency is now working on a public service announcement focused on emergency stop buttons."

""Anybody can hit the emergency stop button, which will stop that escalator from moving s"

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