Escalators frequently stop in winter and spring – Mikkeli shopping centre now maintains them weekly

Escalators in Finland are experiencing more frequent stoppages during winter and spring, particularly due to small stones and debris, public broadcaster Yle reports.

Small gravel and sand used for winter traction often get carried into shopping centres on shoe soles, triggering escalator safety mechanisms. These systems are designed to halt immediately if any object becomes lodged in the moving parts, such as when a stone gets caught between the step and the comb plate.

At Mikkeli’s Stella shopping centre, maintenance crews have been called weekly this winter to address escalator issues, according to centre manager Merituuli Hurmerinta. While stoppages are more common in colder months, they can also occur randomly due to clothing getting caught in the mechanism or unnecessary use of emergency stop buttons.

“Most stoppages aren’t actual malfunctions but safety-related pauses,” Hurmerinta explained.

Escalators typically have a lifespan of 25–30 years, according to manufacturer Kone Oyj. Wear and tear, especially in high-traffic areas like shopping centres, often leads to maintenance needs—particularly affecting handrails and other frequently used components.

Before restarting a stopped escalator, technicians must first identify and resolve the cause of the interruption.