PURPOSE: To minimize the possibility of malfunction by arranging a number of range finding reflection type photosensors in a lattice form on the outer edge of a handrail part, and generating a prescribed output according to the output pattern to operate a safety circuit.

CONSTITUTION: A number of range finding reflection type photosensors 12 are formed on the surface 11 of the outer edge 10 of the handrail part 4 of an escalator in a lattice form at a pitch A×B toward a triangular space part apex. When a passenger is leaning over a moving handrail 7 during the ascending operation, it crosses photosensors C1-C3, C4-C6 successively, the outputs of AND circuits 40, 41 are in H, but the output of an AND circuit 50 is in L since the output of an AND circuit 42 is in L, so that an emergency stop relay 61 is not operated. When C7-C9 are also ON, the output of the AND circuits 40-42, 50 are in H, and the emergency stop relay 61 is operated through an OR circuit 60. According to this, the possibility of malfunction is minimized by taking an object as area, so that a passenger is never unnecessarily troubled.