The failure of building facilities has a real impact on the wallet and disability.
Causing hotel bills, to wasted food
Melbourne—This incident befell Shane Hryhorec, a wheelchair-bound man in Melbourne, Australia. He was forced to incur significant personal expenses after the elevator in his apartment suddenly broke down, leaving him unable to access his own home.
Coming home after a tiring day at work is everyone's dream, but for Shane Hryhorec, it became an expensive nightmare. The elevator in his apartment building was broken, leaving Shane, a person with a disability, without alternative access to his unit.
This incident resulted in significant financial losses for Shane:
- Unexpected Accommodation Expenses: With no certainty about when the elevator would be repaired, Shane was forced to pay $230 AUD (approximately Rp2.4 million) for a night's hotel stay.
- Grocery Waste: Shane had just done his weekly grocery shopping for $60 AUD (approximately Rp630,000). Unable to get home, he had to throw away the meat and dairy he bought because they had spoiled after being left in the car without refrigeration.
Sadly, even though he is part owner of the apartment, Shane is disappointed that there is no clear compensation scheme for owner-occupants who are financially impacted by the building's infrastructure failure. The elevator company stated that the incident was a part failure during planned maintenance, but for owner-occupants like Shane, the impact goes far beyond a technical issue.
This case serves as a stark reminder to building management, P3SRS administrators, and developers that facility maintenance is not just about comfort, but also the human right to access housing. The failure of public facilities like elevators can be a significant additional financial burden for residents, especially those with mobility limitations.
To date, no compensation scheme has been offered by the management or the elevator company, leaving the burden of these costs entirely on the shoulders of the owner-occupants.
Analysis: Responsibilities of Administrators, Building Managers & Infrastructure Solutions
The problem Shane experienced in Melbourne is a concrete manifestation of what is discussed in the book "Misteri Lift Apartemen dan Solusinya." This incident demonstrates that elevator failures are not simply technical issues of "broken cables" or "worn parts," but rather a risk management issue that impacts the financial well-being and human rights of residents.
The following points are analyzed regarding the responsibilities of managers:
- Failure to Mitigate Risk (Contingency Plan): As emphasized in the book, building managers are required to have specific emergency protocols for occupants with special needs. In Shane's case, the lack of alternative solutions (such as providing temporary accommodation or evacuation assistance) suggests the management was solely focused on equipment repairs, rather than human services.
- Transparency and Real-Time Communication: One solution proposed in the book is an integrated information system. Shane's lack of knowledge of the elevator breakdown until he arrived at the front of the building demonstrates the weakness of the management's notification system, which could have prevented further losses if notified earlier.
- Financial Compensation: P3SRS administrators often seek protection from Building Management and the "unforeseen damage" clause. However, according to the solutions in this book, rigorous preventive maintenance is the absolute responsibility of all parties responsible for managing the IPL. If a malfunction occurs due to a missed schedule or spare parts, the administrators and management must be legally and financially prepared to compensate the occupants for the losses.
Conclusion: This case serves as an important reminder for P3SRS practitioners, building management, and property managers in Indonesia. Managing an elevator isn't just about keeping the machine running, but also about ensuring the survival and economic well-being of everyone who lives inside.
News Source:
https://au.news.yahoo.com/aussies-230-hotel-bill-after-being-stranded-outside-home-highlights-sad-problem-073137113.html
