Workers in Japan whose employers’ offices are in high-rise buildings can feel relieved. As part of emergency planning for earthquakes and other disasters, the Japanese government is planning on mandating toilets on elevators!
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According to a report by Agency France-Presse (AFP), past incidents during earthquakes resulted in people being stuck in elevators for hours with no place to go—literally. Although newer elevators automatically stop at the next floor, some older ones do not have this feature.
Officials from the Infrastructure Ministry met with the Japanese Association of Elevator Makers to discuss the problem. Japan currently has over 620,000 elevators, mostly in earthquake-prone areas.
The “toilets” proposed include cardboard boxes with plastic liners or absorbable material that can be collapsed for storage but easily assembled into a makeshift toilet. Another idea is to have plastic-lined waste receptacles with holes in the middle that can do double duty as a toilet as needed.
Proposals also include having bottled water accessible for those stranded.
Wow. Wonder if California will follow Japan’s lead.