Crocs and similar soft shoes linked to escalator entrapments

At first we thought that the stories we've been hearing about Crocs getting caught in escalators were an urban myth akin to alligators in the sewers. But recently, safety groups in the U.S. and Japan have issued warnings about soft-sided flexible clogs like Crocs and its imitators posing safety hazards to escalator riders. Typically, the shoe becomes entrapped when the rider is stepping on or off the escalator or standing too close to the side.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission reports that 77 escalator entrapment incidents have been reported since January 2006, half of which resulted in injury. All but two of the incidents involved soft-sided flexible clogs and slides such as Crocs. The CPSC doesn't reference the brand Crocs in its announcement but acknowledges that Crocs fall into the category of soft shoes they are warning about.

"This is a newer product on the market that poses a risk and we felt it was responsible to let consumers know," said CPSC spokesperson Julie Vallese. "It's not the shoe causing the injury but an unintentional risk when using an escalator."

The New York Daily News reported that a three-year-old girl was "severely and permanently" injured in November when her Crocs-clad foot became caught in an escalator at JFK airport, injuring her big toe. The Washington Post reported that a four-year-old boy wearing Crocs suffered an injured toe when his foot got caught on an escalator in a mall in Virginia last September. And after noticing an increase in soft shoes getting caught in the hard teeth of its escalators, the Washington Metro posted warnings about wearing soft-soled shoes on its moving stairways.

In Japan, where 3.9 million pairs of Crocs were sold last year, the Trade Ministry asked the Colorado-based maker of Crocs to change the design of its shoes after receiving 65 complaints of Crocs and Crocs knockoffs becoming stuck in escalators between June and November of 2007. Most of the cases involved young children.

When asked about the entrapments, a Crocs spokesperson said, "Escalator safety is an issue we take very seriously.  Safety experts say several factors can contribute to escalator accidents, including escalator design and maintenance, loose clothing or untied shoelaces, footwear and improper use."

Vallese says that the CPSC has warned about soft shoes and escalator safety in the past and felt it should renew its warning because of the number of incidents involving soft shoes and because now that the weather is warming more people are opting for lighter footwear.

Here are some general tips about escalator safety compiled from information offered by the CPSC and the Washington Metro.

• Before climbing aboard, look to see where the emergency shutoff buttons are in case you need to stop the escalator. The buttons are usually at the top and bottom of each escalator and can be used to stop the escalator in an emergency.
• Check the direction of the escalator before you take the first step.
• To avoid the sides of steps where entrapment can occur, stand in the middle of the step. Always face forward and hold the handrail.
• Step over the comb plate. Always pick up your feet and step carefully on or off the escalator. Never drag or slide your feet off the edge of the escalator.
• Stay clear of moving parts. Keep your hands, feet and clothing clear of the side panels of the escalator. Remember: loose shoe laces, rubber boots and baggy clothes can get caught in the moving parts of the escalator. Make sure you have no dangling clothing or loose shoelaces that could get caught.
• Always hold children's hands on escalators and do not permit children to sit or play on the steps.
• Never walk up the down escalator or vice versa.
• Do not bring children onto escalators in strollers, walkers or carts.
• Stand upright. Never lean on the side of the escalator or sit on the stairs. Never ride on the handrail.
• Do not run on an escalator.
• Exit promptly from the escalator. Never stop, stand or play at an escalator landing; this can cause a dangerous pileup.

Comments

[KEELEY]

croc should take more responsability for a defect or danger in wearing there shoe, but also they should be made to put a warning on them so a parent is aware. all these people on here say its lazy people or irresponsible parents, but in reality... if it was one of your children who's toes got cut off, simply cause they stepped off too late or they had a foot resting too close to the side, you would be irate, and feel your child should have some kind of justice for the perminate disfiguration. have compassion for other man kind, every one should stand up for companys to care about what there products are doing to people. its just like kids playing with toys and getting led poison, i suppose thats there fault too?....

[merrill]

For all those doubters out there, and those who say parents should watch their kids, try travelling with three kids, all under the age of 8, with luggage, and flight time issues, AND making sure they hold onto the escalator handrail AND that they dont let the shoe their wearing touch the side..Thats the problem, KIDS want to touch the side--they like it..Do it in a sneaker--no big deal, do it in a CROC and bye bye toes! The issue here is did the parents know that danger when they bought the CROC and the answer is NO--why? because crocs didnt issue a simple warning--isse the warning and the parents to blame, BUT THATS NOT THE CASE HERE BECAUSE ISSUE THE WARNING AND SALES GO DOWN!!!! Dont you people get it? It really is so simple when you look at it from $$ persepctive of CROCS...so for those who say the trial lawyers are too much, think again!

[Jen]

Crocs are the ugliest shoes ever invented. They (along with flip flops, which I think are tacky too) are for lazy people who don't want to bend over and tie a real shoe. I bet these are the same people who owned parachute pants in the 80s.

[Aaron]

This lawsuit is nothing but a croc! I've torn my ACL, ruptured my achilles, broken both arms, chipped teeth and the like because of many factors, perhaps including the shoes I was wearing. People should take more responsibility for their actions and look out for their safety and the safety of their children and stop blaming others and hoping to win large settlements! Perhaps Crocs could pay the medical expenses (if the child was not covered under a health plan already). Otherwise suck it up, watch your children more carefully and buy a shoe for every occasion. You could carry with you a pair for walking, riding escalators, taking the stairs or elevator, walking a decline, walking an incline, walking in sand, walking in grass, running on pavement, etc. Goodness folks! Are you kidding me???

[Michelle]

I wear crocs everyday, everywhere. I have never had any accident, fall, etc. I am careful where and how I walk no matter what show I am wearing. I do not recommend smaller children wearing them as they do not know how to avoid some of the causes of these injuries. Also, please wear the straps across your ankles - it will help both your foot and your chances of an accident. Any shoe with no back or strap support at all is asking for trouble. Thanks.

[Kat]

Everyone just needs to pay attention and be careful on escalators, no matter what they are wearing. I saw teh Metro poster showing a pile of shoes involved in escalator accidents there, and there were some of every kind of shoe in the picture. Those kinds of accidents happened long before Crocs showed up on the scene. As for those whose feet get stuck on non-moving surfaces, just pick up your feet more when wearing soft soled shoes and the problem will be solved.

[Mariann]

I did fall the other day in the grocery store. My toe stopped and I went flying and landed on my hands and knees. Luckily I didn't break my kneecaps. I called Crocs and I'm waiting to see if they will do anything, although the customer service rep sounded reluctant and said that they couldn't resell them. So we'll see. But I doubt if I will wwear them anymore.

[TomTrottier]

The foremost problem seems to be the stickiness of the croc. Then the flexibility lets it be squeezed and drawn into the works. Fix either, and the problem should lessen.

I'm surprised that CR didn't suggest carrying little kids on escalators rather than supervising them.

tOM

[Paticia Sherwood]

The rubber in any shoe does not slide,I have had my Crocs get caught but I had read about this happening so I was prepared. I also have fallen wearing my Crocs.They just plain stopped on me as I was walking, unfortunately I was hurt quite badly. I will not wear my Crocs when I go shopping because there is a possiblity of them stopping me and make me lose my balance.I wear them in the yard or on the cement, they do not seem to stopped dead on cement,dirt,grass or sand.

[Marcus Dolson]

For wearing the most comfortable footwear ever, yes, I've paid the price of slipping on wet surface, too, Parents should not have small ones encounter one of the most fearful machines ever, the escalator, barefoot or soft shoed.

[Suzi Gutting]

I have tripped numerous times when wearing Crocs. The forward edge of the shoe seems to stick on the pavement or concrete and stay there while I'm still going forward. I haven't fallen yet, thank goodness, but it feels like an accident waiting to happen. I rarely wear them any more because of this, but I love how comfortable they are. I have 4 pairs that I'm reluctant to wear anywhere but inside the house.

[Laura]

I have seen a person wearing sneakers get his foot stuck in an escalator. It's not necessarily the shoe a person is wearing, but whether or not the safety rules are being followed. In particular, not standing near the side, but towards the middle of the step.

[Stan]

Crocs can also be dangerous as they wear down. The bottom becomes smooth so there is no traction. I took a fall on some stairs and the crocs went into the garbage. Please watch this carefully, especially with kids and older people.

[John]

A recent report on 60 Minutes was shocking. They took a Croc type shoe, put it along the side of the escalator and the escalator pulled it in time after time after time. It's not a fluke thing. The injuries they showed were devastating foot and toe injuries.

The rubber material does not skid. It gets pulled into the edge of the escalator and traps the foot of the person wearing it.

[Sharon]

Yes, but small children do not usually wear stilleto heels. They wear crocs by the thousands!

[Krishna Govinda]

Any sort of shoe can get caught in an escalator. I am not saying this does not happen with the Crocs. High and stilleto heeled shoes seem to be more dangerous on these moving stairs than the softer shoes. A stilleto heel can get stuck in the crevices of the escalator steps, too.