DECATUR — The Arkansas Department of Labor Elevator Safety Division is investigating a passenger elevator accident which occurred at the Simmons Feed Mill in Decatur last week.

A 50-year-old Simmons Foods employee was inside the elevator on Nov. 21 when the cable apparently broke and dropped the elevator three stories, according to Decatur Fire Chief David Flynt.

The man, whose name was not released, sustained multiple injuries and was transported to the hospital by AirEvac helicopter.

Denise Oxley, attorney for the Arkansas Department of Labor, said an investigation was pending, but said she couldn’t provide any further details.

The Elevator Safety Division is responsible for making sure elevators are inspected - eitherby the division or a private company - and issuing permits. It is also responsible for investigating elevator accidents, she said.

Elevator accidents in Arkansas are rare, but they do happen, Oxley said.

The elevator at Simmons Feed Mill in Decatur was last inspected on Aug. 28 by a private company, and no violations were found, Oxley said.

The report shows the elevator was inspected byNational Elevator Inspection Service, Inc., of Batesville. During the inspection - which took 20 minutes to complete - the elevator’s machine room, hoistway, pit and cab were found to be in good condition, the report stated.

All passenger elevators, wheelchair lifts and escalators must be inspected semiannually. Freight elevators and dumbwaiters must be inspected annually, according to the Department of Labor website. www.labor. ar.gov.

Simmons Foods officials, on Monday, declined to comment about the accident.

News, Pages 1 on 12/05/2012