In its document 95/216/EC of 8 June 1995 the European Communities Commission recommended its Member States to improve lift safety in accordance with the following ten principles:

1. Car doors should be fitted and also a floor-level indicator inside the car.

2. Car suspension ropes should be inspected and possibly replaced.

3. Stop controls should be modified so as to achieve a high degree stopping accuracy as it comes to a halt.

4. The controls both in the car and in the well should be intelligible for and accessible to unaccompanied disabled persons.

5. Automatic doors should be fitted with human- and animal-presence detectors.

6. Lifts travelling faster than 0.6 m/s should be equipped with a safety gear system allowing for smooth deceleration while stopping.

7. Alarm systems should be modified to introduce permanent communication with quick-response rescue team.

8. Any asbestos used in braking systems should be eliminated.

9. A device should be installed preventing uncontrolled upward travel of the car.

10. Cars should be provided with emergency lighting system automatically switched on if power is cut off. It should operate long enough for rescue team to intervene in regular course. The installation should also enable functioning of the emergency alarm system indicated in item 7 above.
    
    For more information, please refer to Enclosure 2: "European Communities Commission Recommendations 95/216/EC of 8 June 1995 concerning improvement of safety of existing lifts"

The only positive way of counteracting the hazards is to install the elements improving safety of lifts in service.