Why is the escalator closed?

[MyGodWearsAHoodie]

When I was a kid it was not uncommon for an escalator to be out of order converting it to a staircase.  However, I have noticed that no longer occurs, there will be barriers placed in front of the escalator forcing one to find another escalator, elevator or staircase. 

Seems dumb.  A broken escalator is still a perfectly find set of stairs.

[Sibster]

Certain types of shoes don't bode well with the metal steps on an escalator and could result in a slip and fall incident that can lead to a lawsuit.   These days, people are lawsuit happy so the establishment is trying to protect itself from any liability.

[CF DolFan]

I'm guessing it's because of lawsuits and liability. While is seems simple that a person can walk up an escalator that isn't moving, I'm sure there are people who trip or fall and blame it on the lack of movement, signage, or any other fake reason. All it takes it for a lawyer to argue it and make some money. Easier to just close it off if it isn't working than to deal with that. Insurance companies might even mandate they close them off if not working.

I just saw a pizza box that said to open box before eating pizza. What the heck could have happened to cause this warning? We are a much dumber world than we were 20-30 years ago. 

[Sibster]

I just saw a pizza box that said to open box before eating pizza. What the heck could have happened to cause this warning? We are a much dumber world than we were 20-30 years ago. 

If they had to make a warning sign for it, that means people were trying to eat the box.   

[MyGodWearsAHoodie]

f if it isn't working than to deal with that. Insurance companies might even mandate they close them off if not working.

I just saw a pizza box that said to open box before eating pizza. What the heck could have happened to cause this warning? We are a much dumber world than we were 20-30 years ago. 

Some times that is just PR bullshit.  For example McD use to sell coffee so hot that if you spilled it on yourself you would require hospitalization from the burns and likewise was too hot to be consumed (the intended purpose of coffee).  After a jury determined that McD was selling  product 20 degrees hotter than any other coffee vendor in the city and that selling a product that was intended to be drank was too hot to be safely drank.  McD's in an effort to shift blame to the hundreds of people hospitalized by their unreasonably dangerous product add a warning label to the cups indicating that the contents may be hot, even thought that had almost nothing to do with the lawsuit and the issue was the coffee was being served at an unreasonably hot temperature. 

[CF DolFan]

I don't see that as a different reason. Had the lawsuit not been filed, that warning would never have been placed. With that said ... it appears the lawsuit was warranted as the coffee caused severe burns to a 79-year-old woman. That's much hotter than a rational person would expect. Suing because you trip on an escalator that isn't moving is frivolous in my opinion.

Interesting to note ... the lady only wanted $20,000 to cover her medical expenses. McDonalds offered her $800. She ended up getting a few hundred thousand dollars after initially being awarded millions.

[Sibster]

I don't see that as a different reason. Had the lawsuit not been filed, that warning would never have been placed. With that said ... it appears the lawsuit was warranted as the coffee caused severe burns to a 79-year-old woman. That's much hotter than a rational person would expect. Suing because you trip on an escalator that isn't moving is frivolous in my opinion.

Interesting to note ... the lady only wanted $20,000 to cover her medical expenses. McDonalds offered her $800. She ended up getting a few hundred thousand dollars after initially being awarded millions.

Also interesting to note:

1.   Coffee being brewed fresh with hot water out of a hot water heater is initially going to be hot to the point where it can scald your skin

2.   The lady put the cup of coffee between her knees to add cream and sugar rather than set it somewhere on the dashboard where it would've been more stable.

3.   I'm not surprised this took place in California.   

[Phishfan]

^^^ Albuquerque is in New Mexico.

[Pappy13]

I don't see that as a different reason. Had the lawsuit not been filed, that warning would never have been placed.

You're missing the point. The point Hoodie was making is that the intent of the lawsuit was to force McDonalds to serve coffee at the appropriate temperature, not for them to put a warning on the cup that the coffee is hot. That was completely unecessary. I think Hoodie is suggesting the same thing about the warning signs on elevators, they probably are unecessary, but still likely the result of a legal action.