Seminar Escalator Accident Sends Consultants Flying

Written by L J on July 21, 2008 – 9:13 am -

A worker at the Dallas Convention Center suddenly hit the reverse switch on an escalator carrying Mary Kay consultants to lunch on Friday, 18 July, injuring at least 10.

Crayton Webb, spokesperson for Mary Kay Inc., described the women involved in the incident as positive and upbeat.

“That is indicative of the Mary Kay women,” said Mr. Webb

Oh brother.

How incompetent does a worker have to be to reverse the direction of an escalator when there are people on it? Makes you wonder if he just wanted to get his jollies watching these women topple.

Hmmm…how “positive and upbeat” will these women seem if they file a lawsuit for negligence?


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12 Comments to “Seminar Escalator Accident Sends Consultants Flying”

  1. Gary M Sullivan MonsterID Icon Gary M Sullivan Says:

    Being involved with escalators I know there is more to the story then a worker hitting a reverse button. First of all there isn’t such a thing as a reverse “button” Secondly if the escalator was operating with people on it the worker would have to press a stop button, then put a key in the switch lock which is probably under the curved area of the escalator(newel) and physically turn and hold the key in either the up or down position. If the worker does not hold the key in the position he wants the unit to travel then the key switch would return the key to a neutral position stopping the movement of the escalator. Why print something unless the circumstances are somewhat accurate. I hope the people who were on the unit are ok.

  2. L J MonsterID Icon L J Says:

    Interesting Gary.

    All newspaper reports of the incident cite a worker hitting the “reverse” button as the cause of the accident. I didn’t make it up or guess; I’m just passing along that info.

    News accounts of the incident don’t go into details, so it is possible, I suppose, that the worker opened the panel, turned a key, pressed a button…but they just didn’t give all that info.

    I suppose it could have been a malfunction of the escalator. We’ll probably never know for sure.

  3. Baroness vFP MonsterID Icon Baroness vFP Says:

    I wonder how many would have actually toppled had they been allowed to wear flat, sensible shoes. Were any of the injuries being poked or stabbed with a closed-toe heel? ;)

  4. Tam MonsterID Icon Tam Says:

    “Crayton Webb, spokesperson for Mary Kay Inc., described the women involved in the incident as positive and upbeat.”

    This gripes me!  Why would MKInc need to describe people injured in accident as “positve and upbeat”?  It feels like they are turning this accident into a free advertising campaign for MK Wonderwomen Consultants! 

  5. Lisa MonsterID Icon Lisa Says:

    Strangely enough Mary Kay Consultants are upbeat and positive! If not seriously hurt why dwell on the negative! Also they were attending Mary Kay Seminar which is a FANTASTIC event!

  6. a different lisa MonsterID Icon a different lisa Says:

    i was there at the c-center when this happened.  no one was seriously hurt and the ladies were indeed, upbeat and positive.  i had just come from the lunch area and heard that the escalator had suddenly stopped, not reversed.  probably will never know what exactly happened, but the women weren’t ready to file lawsuits.  i hope they aren’t talked into it by someone just trying to get money for themselves.

  7. Cat MonsterID Icon Cat Says:

    Yes, I am here to attest that MK consultants pride themselves on being upbeat and positive - and the Seminar Experience is designed to help us remain so - and to go home charged and ready to change the world & enrich women’s lives….so of COURSE they were upbeat.  I guess we shouldn’t be surprised that someone unfamiliar with our positive environment could relate - as you see in their posting.  Too bad more companies don’t stress the positive like MK.  Oh, and by the way- at Seminar you’ll see as many flats or slippers as you see heels.  We’re glamorous- but that doesn’t mean we’re stupid.  Some of us might get sore feet from wearing pretty feminine shoes - but we OWN that pain with pride….and most certainly didn’t poke anybody with our heels.  I mean really - reign in the bitterness please.  I hope the 10 ladies are ok- and I applaud their positivity.  We need more of it in the world - and it certainly doesn’t need to be ridiculed.   Go get some lipstick and cheer up already.  You go,  MK girls! MK rocks!

  8. Kelly MonsterID Icon Kelly Says:

    “Go get some lipstick and cheer up already.”

    WTF? Are you for real?

    Think for yourself, woman! You probably don’t have a thought in your head that didn’t come straight from the lips of Mary Kay Ash. How pathetic. I don’t know whether to laugh or feel sorry for you.

  9. Tam MonsterID Icon Tam Says:

    I realize that most Consultants are “upbeat and positive” but in reference to an accident?  Sounds like free advertising to me - JMO.

    As a former member of your enviorment, I can relate and fully enjoy reading all of the upbeat and positive comments! 

  10. SassyC MonsterID Icon SassyC Says:

    You got it Tam…free advertising!

    I don’t give a rat’s ass how up beat and positive you are….cause at the end of the day when you are all by yourself in your hotel room it still hurts getting thrown around on an escalator! So I guess y’all got your positive attitude to sooth your pain! Ha….take some aspirin and quit MK! You’ll feel much better with that pain lifted too!

  11. rethinkingpink MonsterID Icon rethinkingpink Says:

    Well you have to live in denial of any “negative thoughts” regarding any pain inflicted by an escalator accident when you slave away for an MLM that doesn’t provide health insurance!
    Pssst, Cat, some of the members of this site were looonng-time directors, some were in MK for 15-20 years.  Don’t tell us we don’t know what we’re talking about, we were part of it once too.

  12. BellaC MonsterID Icon BellaC Says:

    I saw the news yesterday where an escalator suddenly reversed direction at a Tokyo convention.  I decided to do a search trying to find out where that happened because I couldn’t remember when the lady on the escalator ahead of me joked with the EMT’s at the bottom of the escalator we were going up.  Apparently the other escalator is closed because earlier in the day it suddenly reversed direction.  A few people were hurt from our convention in Edmonton.  All 3 accidents involved conventions - and all happened in a rather quick time period - all being the last three weeks.

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