NEW YORK CITY-A joint investigation by the city's Department of Buildings and Department of Investigations found that human error was at play in the death of 41-year-old Suzanne Hart, the Young & Rubicam employee who was fatally crushed by a malfunctioning elevator inside the company's headquarters at 285 Madison Ave. last December.

After a forensic examination of Transel Elevator, Inc.--the firm that maintains the elevators inside the Madison Avenue office building--the report found that a safety circuit was bypassed on elevator nine, the one involved in the fatality, allowing the elevator to accelerate upwards with its doors open, says the DOB. Transel workers failed to follow basic safety procedures before the incident, such as placing caution tape across the elevator’s door jamb, and notifying DOB to inspect the elevators before putting them back in service, as required by the New York City Building Code.

As a result, John Fichera, Transel’s owner, was suspended by the DOB. The suspension prevents the company from performing any elevator upgrades, new installations, or inspections in the city pending the appointment of a new license holder. In addition, DOB has already issued 23 violations, with a minimum penalty of $117,000, to Transel, including violations for operating elevator 9 without a certificate of compliance, the DOB says.