Most Massachusetts Mall Escalators Lack Full Inspections

Three-quarters of the escalators in Massachusetts shopping malls have not been inspected annually in the past three years as required by law.

A Boston Globe review of state Public Safety Department inspection records found that from 2008 to 2010, only 44 out of 188 escalators at the state’s major shopping malls were inspected annually.

Inspected escalators were found in need of repair more than half the time, and mall escalators were temporarily shut down 22 times over safety concerns.

A 4-year-old Dudley boy died in March when he fell from an escalator at the Auburn Mall. The death sparked a safety sweep of about 900 escalators statewide.

State Public Safety Commissioner Thomas Gatzunis says while some escalator inspections are not current, the “absolute majority” of escalators are in good condition.