Elevator Training Program Helps Workers Ascend

In the photo above, Shirell Taylor (third from left) at the elevator training in early March at Long Island City.

Improving elevator service for residents is a top priority for NYCHA, and maintaining 3,200 elevators requires a lot of skilled workers. Since these workers are sometimes in short supply, NYCHA’s Elevator Services and Repair Department (ESRD) began a new training program in February for new hires with no elevator repair experience.

The training program covers elevator basics, safety, standard procedures, and electrical, among other topics. After exams, evaluations, and field training, trainees are partnered with an experienced mechanic, with whom they work with until they’re ready to be a full-time assistant.

Richard Solivan, Director of ESRD, said that 37 trainees have started working in the field so far. “We’re happy with the results. The trainees made it through a demanding training course, and we’re hearing positive feedback from the mechanics in the field.”

One of those 37 trainees is Shirell Taylor (who happens to be a former resident of Chelsea Houses). She shared her thoughts about the training experience:

“I’ve been working for NYCHA since 2005, starting as a seasonal caretaker and moving up to elevator dispatcher. That means taking calls from mechanics, assigning work tickets, following up on jobs, and dispatching mechanics. So I got a sense of what it is like to work in elevators. I did think about becoming a mechanic, but I knew that without the proper training and experience it just wouldn’t be possible.

“But then I saw the job posting [for this program] and read about the training that came with it, and I thought it looked super excellent! I thought, ‘Wow, what a step up this could be for me!’ So I applied and I got a call back and the interview went really well. I was so happy when I got the job! Training started in February, and was it ever rigorous! They emphasized safety to the point that I couldn’t possibly avoid being safe. The training was part in the classroom and part hands-on. I liked the hands-on side the best.

“The most challenging part of the training was communication. The elevator room is very noisy, because there are so many moving parts and motors. I had to retrain my hearing a bit. In the classroom, I had to listen very closely and make sure I understood everything.

“Right now, I’m under the direct supervision of my mechanic. He’s a great mechanic and I am learning a lot from him. He is always willing to take the time to explain things and answer my questions.

“After I do this job for a while, I would like to take the civil service test to be an elevator mechanic helper. Because of this job I can apply to positions that require experience. That’s why I love working for NYCHA. They have given me opportunities to move up, and now I am in a skilled trades division. These opportunities come once in a lifetime, so I’m glad NYCHA gave me the opportunity to advance in the organization.”