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SLIP & FALL PROBLEMS AREAS ON STAIRS

Did you know that 4% of all emergency room visits and 15% of fall-related injuries occur on stairs or in conjunction with handrails or banisters? That’s a fairly staggering number considering many able-bodied people use stairs daily. It can also be a frightening number to homeowners with multiple-story homes when their family’s safety is their #1 priority. 

While most injuries happen when going down the stairs, many people become injured after missing their footing while going up the stairs.  The issue is further complicated as the length, construction, and placement of stairways can vary greatly.  While building codes often dictate the rise and run of stairs, older staircases and those not built to code create unique problems.

Stairs can be made of basic lumber, finished hardwood, glass, composite material, metal, or concrete.  They can be carpeted, covered in polished stone, painted, or unpainted.  Because this category is so broad, it is best to categorize the process of reducing slips and falls into prevention and mitigation.

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Many times, people will wait until an accident occurs, like a fall that sends you to the ER, before taking fall prevention seriously. Like most things, no one thinks it will happen to them until it does. Recognizing unsafe behaviors can go a long way in preventing injuries on stairs. Some of the most accessible ways to prevent stairway injuries are to:

• Use Handrails When Available: When using stairs without a handrail, we’ll often have only a single foot, which is only a single point of contact, on the stairs. A hand on the rail provides another point of contact, increasing stability and providing a way to recover should we start to fall. This also makes it evident that no one should be running up and down the stairway, as the movement of the arms interferes with the use of the handrail. 
• Make Smart Footwear Choices: Worn-out shoes, slippery soles, high heels, clothing that falls below foot level, untied shoelaces, and wearing only socks all contribute to unsafe situations. While we’ve all experienced how slippery socks can be on hardwood floors and stairs, we continue this unsafe behavior because wearing socks is a simple solution to cold feet. A small change, such as a warm pair of slippers with nonslip soles, can make all the difference.
• Be Careful When Carrying Items: Carrying anything on the stairs increases your risk of an accident. Your attention is split between what you’re holding and where you are walking.  Your weight distribution and balance are affected, and the greater physical effort can result in missteps. Because your hands aren’t available to hold onto the handrails, your view of the stairs may be blocked by the object you’re carrying. Carrying children down stairs results in about five thousand child injuries a year. In fact, children who are injured when being carried are more severely injured than those who fall on their own. If you have to carry something on the stairs, focus on carrying things safely. Making multiple trips with smaller and lighter loads will make you safer.
• Keep Stairs Clean: Keep your stairs clear of clutter and clean up spills immediately. Waiting until later can result in accidents. Stairways in residential environments can also be slowly consumed with items like folded clothes waiting to go upstairs, but in order to avoid creating any slip and fall hazards, it is essential to keep the stairway clear.

You can mitigate the slip, trip, and fall risks on stairs by mitigating design, construction, and material flaws that often lead to slips and falls. You can also reduce risk by mitigating the environmental conditions that encourage falls.  Here are ways to mitigate the inherent risk from stairs.

• Install Handrails: Stairs should have a well-secured handrail, if at all possible. Using a handrail while ascending or descending stairs adds a second point of stability that will often allow you to “catch” a slip before it becomes a fall. Don’t overlook locations with just one or two steps, like a transition between your home and garage or the steps leading up to your porch.
• Repair or Replace Worn or Cracked Steps: Take care of problems right away. If you notice loose, uneven, cracked, or broken steps; broken or chipped stair edges; and nosings (front-edge guards) that are bent and do not lie flat, address these issues as quickly as possible. By maintaining stairs properly, or retrofitting them with tread caps like our HandiTreads nosings , you can minimize the risk posed by the physical deterioration of stair treads. HandiTreads aluminum stair treads and nosings prevent slips, trips, and falls by increasing the traction on the step while also increasing the structural integrity of the steps. The treads are also offered in four refined earth-toned shades that either blend in or create an elegant contrast with any surface to which they are applied, making them the ideal anti-slip solution for homeowners who value both form and function. 
• Ensure Stairs Have a Standard Rise and Run: A standard step has a 7-inch rise with an 11-inch-wide run. We expect this—our muscle memory is trained for this pattern. A serious design flaw, such as stair riser height that var­ies on the same set of stairs, can mean that we are tak­en by surprise and our balance is affected. Stairs that have a higher than average rise will cause us to stumble. A lower-than-average rise will require a lot of extra steps and will feel unnatural. Stair treads that are too narrow provide too little space to properly place our feet, and treads that are too wide create an unnatural gait and require extra concentration to keep from landing on the stair edge.
• Anticipate Weather Conditions: If the stairway or steps at your home are located outdoors, like steps leading to a deck or porch, they will be exposed to elements like rain, snow, frost, and even mold. These conditions can cause stairs to become dangerous slip and fall hazards. The best way to prevent injuries due to slips, trips, and falls on outdoor stairways and steps is to install anti-slip products that will help provide continuous traction. HandiTreads are a permanent anti-slip solution that provides slip, trip, and fall prevention in virtually any weather condition. With their patented raised-button traction surface, the treads create a solid contact between shoe and stair tread in rain, sleet, and even up to one inch of snow. If there is a large amount of snow accumulated on the stairway, you can remove it using a snow shovel, unlike with grit tape or rubber treads. Unlike other anti-slip products, HandiTreads provide slip and fall protection throughout the year in all weather conditions and have a lifetime residential warranty. 

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• Musculoskeletal System Health

How to Avoid Falling Down Stairs

Last Updated: February 29, 2024 Fact Checked

Navigating Stairs Safely

• Making Stairs Slip-Resistant

Dressing for Safety

This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Luke Smith, MFA . Luke Smith is a wikiHow Staff Writer. He's worked for literary agents, publishing houses, and with many authors, and his writing has been featured in a number of literary magazines. Now, Luke writes for the content team at wikiHow and hopes to help readers expand both their skillsets and the bounds of their curiosity. Luke earned his MFA from the University of Montana. There are 9 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 202,530 times. Learn more...

Stair-related accidents happen to millions of people a year, but most of these accidents can be easily prevented by following a few simple safety tips. [1] X Research source Pay attention to each step, for one, and always use the handrail to guide yourself up and down the staircase. We’ll fill you in on many more safety measures to take to prevent falls for yourself and your loved ones, including how to safely navigate stairs, how to ensure the stairs themselves are safe to use, and the best clothing to wear to avoid slips.

Things You Should Know

• Use a handrail and keep your focus on your footing as you navigate stairs.
• Take the stairs slowly and one by one. Avoid rushing on stairs or skipping steps.
• Make sure the stairs are well-lit and have a grippable surface, like treads or carpeting.

• Avoid looking at your phone, a book, or any other distraction while using stairs.
• Be aware that stairs may be uneven, especially on older stairways, so tread carefully!
• Always wear your glasses or contacts when using stairs to ensure you have the best, most accurate view of what’s beneath you.

• Pay special attention to the first and last 3 steps, which is where many accidents occur.

• Hold the handrail for the entire length of the stairs, and keep one hand on it at all times.

• Make sure that the latch on the gate is properly closed at all times you need the gate to be effective.
• Pressure gates are designed to fit between a door frame between rooms. Never use a pressure gate to block a stairway, as it will not be secure.

Making Your Stairs Slip-Resistant

• Make sure the rails allow for an adult person's hand to wrap around it, and are free of splinters or rough areas that might injure the hand.
• Also make sure the handrails extend at least the length of one stair at the bottom and top of the staircase to allow for ease mounting and dismounting, and are ideally on both sides.
• Consider installing a seated stair elevator to assist those with limited mobility.

• Make sure nothing is loose or sticking out of stairs, such as loose boards, nails or other building debris.
• Avoid placing loose rugs at the top or bottom of stairs. These may shift and result in falls.

• Use matte paint—not glossy—to avoid any glare from lights which may impair ability to gauge depth.
• For carpeted stairs: Avoid patterned carpet, as these may obscure the depth of each step. Carpet your stairs with monochrome, single-colored carpeting instead.

• Lights can also be placed within each stair, lighting the stair below, or lit from underneath. Stair lighting is an opportunity to be creative.
• If you find yourself around stairs without adequate lighting, use a flashlight.

• Also monitor the condition of carpeted stairs. Keep these free of any loose threads, and replace the carpeting when it becomes worn to the underlying mesh.
• Consider closing the gaps of open-backed stairs with wood paneling.
• For outdoor stairs: Scatter ice melt across outdoor stairs in cold climates to prevent stairs from freezing.

• If your ankles are weak, make sure you also include ankle support when walking down stairs. A turned ankle may result in a fall.
• Keep your feet turned slightly out for better stability.

• Or, gather the excess material in one hand as you walk, and hold the stair rail with your other hand.
• If you must wear tight skirts, walk up and down stairs by putting both feet on each stair, rather than alternating stairs.
• Or, hike the skirt as far up your thigh as you modestly can. This allows your knees more leeway, and aids in walking up and down stairs more safely.

Expert Q&A

• There are an estimated 1 million staircase-related injuries per year, about 41% of which occur on the lower body, and 21% of which impact the head or neck. [14] X Research source Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
• If you have a staircase-related injury, prop yourself into a comfortable position and phone an emergency number, or call out for help, if you’re able. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

• Staircase-related injuries range from the slight to the severe. Even a small injury may require pain medication or physical therapy, while more severe injuries can be fatal. Remember to take your time and stay safe! Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

You Might Also Like

• ↑ https://ajemjournal.com/article/S0735-6757(17)30759-3/fulltext
• ↑ https://publications.aap.org/aapnews/article/33/9/36/10271/Safety-pitfalls-Stairs-are-a-leading-cause-of?autologincheck=redirected
• ↑ http://ehstoday.com/ppe/fall-protection/ehs_imp_75425
• ↑ https://www.esd112.org/?mailpoet_router&endpoint=view_in_browser&action=view&data=WzIyMiwiNTMxNmU0MjgwNjlhIiwwLCIiLDI0MCwxXQ
• ↑ https://www.nationwidechildrens.org/research/areas-of-research/center-for-injury-research-and-policy/injury-topics/home-safety/stair-safety
• ↑ https://www.dir.ca.gov/title8/3214.html
• ↑ https://www.childinjurypreventionalliance.org/stair-safety
• ↑ http://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/safety_haz/stairs_fallprevention.html
• ↑ http://www.everydayhealth.com/longevity/future-planning/prevent-falls-at-home.aspx

About This Article

If you’re trying not to fall down stairs, keep them free from clutter and be sure there’s adequate lighting. You should be able to turn lights on from both the top and the bottom of the stairs! Maintain the stair tread by installing non-slip surfaces or keeping the carpet in good condition. Make a habit of wearing shoes with good treads when you’re up and down, and avoid clothing that drags on the floor. When you take the stairs, pay attention to each step, use the handrail, and take your time. If you want to learn how to gate your stairs to prevent falls, keep reading the article! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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How to Prevent People from Tripping on Stairs

It happens to a lot of people. One minute you think that you’ve seen the first rise in the staircase, and then the next minute you’re writhing in pain because you stubbed your toe. But, if you think about it, a stubbed toe is a whole lot better than falling forward on the steps of a staircase.

This is the danger of climbing a staircase that isn’t as visible to the eye. Many people fail to gauge their distance from the first step because they can’t see it clearly. So, if you’re building commercial stairs in Melbourne or if you want to report to your company that you stubbed your toe at the office stairs, you should keep in mind that visible steps are the key to preventing injuries.

Here’s how you can do that.

Clean the steps first

Before you start putting on visibility strips or any other marker on your staircase, make sure that you clean it first. According to experts, clean surfaces tend to have greater contrast, so they’re easier to be seen by the naked eye. Remove all the dirt, rubble, grease, and smudges on your stairs.

Light it up

The next step is to set up proper lighting in the staircase . Some people prefer to keep the light in the hallways and staircase the same to have a uniformed effect. But in doing so, it might be hard for some people to notice the change in elevation or formation of the surface they’re walking on.

What you can do is increase the wattage of the light bulbs in the staircase. This way, people will notice a slight change to the intensity of the light and perhaps make them focus more on what the light is trying to illuminate.

If you’re going to choose a light bulb, go with a low glare type and install it overhead, directly focusing on the steps. This way, the light won’t cast shadows on the stair treads and the nosing, which is often the part of the stairs where people trip on.

Contrast the nosing

The nosing of the stairs is often the danger area of the staircase. Many people trip over this part of the stairs because they fail to gauge its distance from them. Some experts say that one of the probable reasons for this is that some stairs are uniformed in colour, making it hard to see clearly the nosing.

Paint the nosing a different colour to make it stand out from the rest of the step. Pick a colour that will contrast with the colour of the step and use that to paint the nosing.

Put up a sign

Finally, the surest way to let people know that they’re about to either climb up a flight of stairs or climb down is to put up a sign that will tell them so. Installing a sign near the stairs will immediately alert people that they’re about to ascend or descend. So they’ll be more careful with their step.

Visibility is important when it comes to climbing up or down the stairs. One trip can lead to an injury or something even worse. Make sure that you implement the steps above in order to prevent any accidents.

About The Author

Howard Fienberg

Home · Blog · Ergonomics : Preventing slips, trips and falls on stairs

Preventing slips, trips and falls on stairs, 10 march, 2021.

Key points:

•  Falls on stairs are common, and often lead to serious injuries.

•  Falls on stairs are often complex – there are multiple possible factors that can cause a fall.

•  Many stair incidents can easily be prevented, and remedial solutions implemented at minimal cost.

•  Ultimately, however, steps and stairs should be designed and built properly, consistent with regulations and common practice, having regard for their purpose and use.

The ubiquitous steps and stairs found in all places of the community present a common fall risk. Each year in Australia, thousands of people are injured in their workplace, home or in a public space due to a fall involving stairs. While most of these injuries are preventable, it remains a fact that such incidents can and do often result in serious injuries or even death.

There are a number of factors that may contribute to a fall on stairs, including design, construction and use. This article will outline some of those factors to look out for when considering the safety of a set of stairs, and suggest practical ways that you can minimise risk of injury.

This advice is necessarily of a general nature only; we recommend that you obtain expert advice if the risk of a fall incident is high. If you are a manager or business owner, it is your legal responsibility to make sure stairs in your workplace are as safe as is reasonably practicable for you to make them.

What commonly causes falls on stairs?

Most falls on stairs occur due to one of the following:

• Slips occur when a person loses traction with the stair surface. The most common causes of slips, therefore, are insufficiently slip-resistant tread surfaces (e.g., surfaces that are highly polished, wet, worn carpet, smooth paint or greasy).
• Tripping occurs when a person unexpectedly catches their foot on part of the stairs. Typically, the objects that a stair user will trip on are small and unobtrusive such as a small lip, or a damaged “nosing” (the step edge). A trip can also occur due to inconsistent step sizing – we rely on uniformity in stairs, and can literally be “tripped up” when it is not provided.
• Mis-stepping occurs when a person oversteps a step or otherwise does not land one of their feet on the next level in the position expected. Our gait (the study of how we walk) is a fragile thing, and it is surprisingly easy to disturb it. Such mis-stepping incidents can often also occur due to dimensional inconsistencies, lack of contrast at the step edges, visual or lighting issues. They can also be caused by damaged steps or poorly maintained steps.

How to minimise slip, trips and falls on stairs

To minimise the risk of a slip or trip and fall on stairs, below are some key things to consider about stair safety, whether it is in a home, workplace or community space.

• Step geometry, the dimension of riser and goings (see diagram below) should be within acceptable limits – the National Construction Code provides a useful table of advice in this regard. “Riser and going” (step rise and run) dimensions should be constant through the flight.
• Is the stairway/stairwell well lit? Long established Australian Standards for lighting provide guidance for a whole host of usage situations.
• Is there good contrast along each the step edge? Is it easy to see that there is a step, and where it’s edge is?
• Is the surface material on the stairs slippery in either wet or dry conditions? Is it exposed to an area likely to get wet or greasy? Is it worn or contaminated with some other material, like powders? Are there surface irregularities? Does it give good traction? Australian Standards for surface slip resistance prescribe minimum requirements for surface coefficients.
• Is the nosing (the front edge of the step, see Figure 1 below) worn, raised and lifted (if there is a strip added) or showing signs of wear? Are there areas where a stair user’s toe or heel could catch?
• Are there handrails? Do they extend the full length of the stairs?
• Avoid single steps where possible – they can hide in plain sight.

Figure 1 – typical stair properties.

There are other behavioural factors that contribute to falls on stairs, like user fatigue, drug and alcohol use, distraction, carrying heavy or large loads, or sun in the eyes.

As independent safety and ergonomics experts, Dohrmann Consulting have investigated a diverse range of incidents involving stairs, and have also worked extensively with stair designers in ensuring designs meet the appropriate building codes and standards.

We leverage our experience gained from regularly providing expert opinion in stair incidents.  

Free ‘Falls on Stairs’ Checklist

We have developed a ‘Falls on Stairs’ checklist that is intended to provide an investigator with guidance as to what to look for and what to ask an injured person when a fall on stairs has occurred. To obtain a copy of this checklist, please click here .

Download Falls on Stairs checklist

You may also be interested in the following information and resources:

• National Construction Code (NCC) Compliance: Expert Safety Advice and Performance Solutions
• Preliminary expert liability advice for legal practitioners
• How to minimise the most common workplace injuries in Australia

Discuss your requirements with an expert – obligation free.

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14 Practical Tips To Stay Safe on the Stairs

Falls, with their potential to cause traumatic injuries, are a serious concern that can have devastating consequences. Among the various hazards that pose a risk to older adults, stairs stand out as particularly treacherous. In fact, a study conducted in the United States has revealed alarming statistics: on average, one million emergency room visits annually are attributed to accidents that occur on staircases, resulting in approximately 12,000 deaths each year.

Considering the potential dangers associated with stairs, it becomes crucial for individuals with elderly loved ones residing in houses equipped with staircases to take proactive measures to ensure their safety. By implementing preventive measures and adopting helpful strategies, it is possible to significantly reduce the risk of trips or falls on stairs, enabling older adults to maintain their independence and live safely. In the following sections, we will delve into a range of practical tips designed to make stairs safer for older adults, helping you to create a secure environment for your loved one.

14 Tips to Stay Safe on the Steps!

Alter open tread stairs.

Open-tread stairs are particularly hazardous as they trick the eye and can cause confusion, particularly for those living with dementia. It may not be practical or convenient to completely replace a staircase, but simply boxing in open-tread stairs can make a great difference in improving safety. 

Remove Carpet Runners

To make a stairway safer, replace old and worn stair carpeting and runners with non-slip flooring. More importantly, to avoid issues down the line, be sure to have it installed by a qualified builder. Not only should carpets be properly stretched to prevent sagging and bunching up, but they should also be tightly stretched against the nosing of each step. 

Improve Lighting

Wear Appropriate Footwear

If your loved one experiences any mobility problems, the correct footwear can be helpful, providing excellent grip and support for the feet . Old or worn shoes and slippers should be thrown out and replaced with sturdy and practical footwear with a non-slip sole. 

Keep the Path Clear

Stairs should offer a clear path and be free of clutter . Many people of all ages use the first few stairs as a place to hold items that need to go upstairs eventually. However, these extra piles of laundry or pieces of clutter can be a trip hazard. Instead, keep a basket near the stairs to store those items and have someone else take them up at another time. 

Choose Paint Colors Wisely

For many seniors with compromised vision, it can be hard to tell where one step ends and another step begins. To mitigate the danger, consider painting the stairs in contrasting colors. Alternating between light and dark colors makes each stair more visible, ensuring a  safe passage for your loved ones. Or, add bright-colored tape to the end of each step. However, it's important to ensure the tape does not come undone and present another tripping hazard. 

Add Handrails

The rails should be firmly secured to the wall at elbow height to provide maximum support. Be sure to test that the rails can hold an adult's full body weight without becoming detached from the wall or post. If possible, arrange for the handrail to continue beyond the length of the staircase. 

Adjust the Rise

In some cases, a complete remodel of the staircase can be the best option. If possible, choose stairs that have a lower rise so that you or your loved one doesn't have to step as high to get to the next stair. 

Remove Hazards

Rugs should never be placed close to a staircase as they increase the risk of tripping and falling. Check stairs and steps for any potential dangers, such as items of furniture nearby that could cause your loved one to trip or stumble. Ideally, the route to a staircase should be clear, well-lit, and uncluttered. 

Add Non-Slip Strips

While carpet runners are a tripping hazard, hardwood stairs also make slipping a possibility. To make hardwood stairs safer for seniors, add non-slip strips to the steps. 

Reduce Stair Time

Consider adapting the home's design to reduce the number of times one needs to go up the stairs. For example, a main-level bedroom and bathroom can cut down on the need to go upstairs as often. The fewer trips up the stairs, the lower the risk of falling on them. 

Get a Stairlift

Getting a stairlift is the safest method for seniors to get up and down the stairs. Electric stairlifts can carry you or your family up and down the stairs without the hassle since they are extremely easy to use. Some models on the market can fit not only linear staircases but also curved or spiral staircases. 

Include a Resting Spot

If you have a larger home with a wide staircase, consider adding a comfortable bench on a landing. This can give seniors a helpful break on the way up or down the stairs. 

Improve Balance and Build Strength

This safety measure is related to personal improvement rather than home improvement. Exercises that reduce fall risk while navigating the stairs will focus on basic leg-strengthening exercises. A beneficial exercise routine should include calf raises, mini-lunges, single-leg lifts, and mini-squats. 

Consider these tips to ensure you and your loved ones are safe on a daily basis! Let us know in the comments below - How do you ensure your steps are safe? 

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Safety Tips for Stairways to Prevent Slips, Trips and Falls

‍ Slips, trips and falls happen everyday on workplace stairways and all employees can benefit from these great reminders on stairway safety.

Stairways are a very common walking surface in most workplaces. Falls from stairs may lead to serious injuries or even death. Employers must take measures in their workplaces to protect employees from slip, trip and fall hazards on any walking/working surface and employees have a responsibility to use stairways correctly, as intended.

Because employees use stairways often, maybe even on a daily basis, it doesn’t usually seem like a risky venture to “ take the stairs ” when it is just a normal part of the workday.

The safer we feel doing an activity the more we ignore the risks. The “ everyday ” aspect of the activity can lead to unsafe behavior that may result in injury when it’s least expected. The majority of stairway workplace incidents occur when an employee is not paying attention, they are rushing or they are not watching their footing.

OSHA General Industry Standard 1910.28(b)(11)(i) states that the employer must ensure each employee exposed to an unprotected side or edge of a stairway landing that is 4 feet (1.2 m) or more above a lower level is protected by a guardrail or stair rail system.

Stairways typically consist of:

• Landing Platform
• Handrail or Stair Rail System
• Steps (Risers)
• Each flight of stairs having at least 3 treads and at least 4 risers must be equipped with stair rail systems and handrails.
• Except for the entrance, stairway floor openings must be guarded by a standard railing on all exposed sides.

Platform landings on stairways must be free of obstructions like the accumulation of debris, materials, or trash. The door or gate opening up onto a platform of stairway must open freely and not present a tripping hazard.

Because it seems like such a simple task to walk up or down the stairs, employees are often trying to do something else at the same time. It’s important to always avoid distractions while walking on the stairs, standing or walking on a stairway landing, or using a door that leads to or from a stairway.

All employees should take the following precautions when stairways are used in the workplace:

• Always use handrails when ascending or descending any stairway.
• Be cautious of environmental conditions such as ice, snow, or rain accumulation that may build up on the steps of stairways.
• Stairs must be kept clean and free of trash, debris, and anything that could cause the steps to be slippery.
• Never use stairways or landings as a storage place, even temporarily.
• Only take one step at a time when ascending or descending the stairway.

Employers are responsible for ensuring workplace stairways are safe and employees should alert management to any unsafe issues or potential hazards noticed on or near stairways.

• Inspect stairways for irregularities such as missing steps, loose handrails, corrosion, holes, grease, spills, or loose carpet/rugs.
• Watch for opening doors on platforms of stairways.
• Ensure there is adequate lighting in stairways.

The majority of stairway workplace incidents occur when an employee is not paying attention, they are rushing and they are not watching their footing. Never carry a load with both hands while going up or down the stairs. This is dangerous for many reasons:

• Your attention is focused on balancing the load
• Your vision is blocked and you can’t see the stairs in front of you
• Your hands are too full to grip a handrail.

More tips to be sure to emphasize in your next safety meeting on stairways:

• Make sure your shoes are tied before using any stairway.
• When walking with others, set a good example by walking up and down the stairs carefully while using the handrail.
• Report or clean up spills or trash found on the stairs.
• Report any situation in which there is insufficient lighting provided on any workplace stairway, indoors or outdoors.
• Never run up or down the stairs and avoid distractions like reading a newspaper or looking at your cell phone.

Just because walking up and down the stairs seems basic, and we've all been doing it since we were toddlers, don't assume you can skip the safety meeting on this topic. Slips, trips and falls happen everyday on workplace stairways and all employees can benefit from these great reminders on stairway safety.

If you are ready to do more for your workplace safety and health program, adding regular safety meetings or toolbox talks is guaranteed to improve workplace safety while improving productivity and your company’s bottom line at the same time.

Putting together the safety message, toolbox talk or safety meeting topic takes time and the free online resources that provide a safety topic outline to follow just aren’t good enough. Weeklysafety.com can make this part of your job easier and it’s super simple to get started.

Weeklysafety.com is giving away 10 free safety topics, no credit card required! Take advantage and grab your free set of safety meeting topics today by clicking the button below.

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Other safety articles

How to get an elderly person up the stairs

Are you responsible for helping an elderly loved one navigate the stairs in their home? No need to fear – with a little bit of preparation and some simple techniques, you can make this task a breeze. In this article, we’ll go over how to safely assist an elderly person up the stairs, from assessing the situation to providing support on the climb. But first, let’s chat a bit about why mobility is so important for our elderly friends and family members.

Maintaining mobility becomes crucial for our physical and mental well-being as we age. It’s no secret that getting up and moving around can help alleviate aches and pains, but did you know that staying active can also boost brain function and lift the mood? So let’s make sure our elderly loved ones can get where they need to go, whether it’s upstairs to bed or down to the kitchen for a snack.

To get an elderly person up the stairs, it is important to assess the individual’s mobility and ability to climb, gather any necessary equipment, such as a handrail or cane, ensure the stairs are clear of any obstacles, and provide support and verbal cues as needed. It is also important to obtain consent before providing assistance and to debrief and review the experience afterwards.

Assessing the Situation

Before you begin helping an elderly person up the stairs, it’s important to take a moment to assess the situation and make sure you and the individual are prepared. Here are a few things to consider:

Evaluating the individual’s mobility and ability to climb stairs

The first step in providing assistance is to assess the individual’s current level of mobility and ability to climb stairs. Can they take steps unassisted, or do they need more support? Do they have any physical limitations that might affect their climb, such as weak legs or difficulty with balance? It’s important to keep in mind that everyone’s abilities and needs are different, so it’s essential to tailor your approach to the individual’s specific situation.

For example, let’s say you’re helping your elderly mother up the stairs to her bedroom. She usually has no problem climbing the stairs, but today she seems a bit unsteady on her feet. In this case, you might choose to provide a bit more support, such as holding onto her arm or offering a handrail for her to hold onto. On the other hand, if your father is more physically capable but has trouble with his cognitive function, you might need to provide more verbal cues and encouragement to help him remember which steps to take.

Consider any potential health issues

In addition to physical limitations, it’s essential to consider any potential health issues that might impact the climb. For instance, is the individual prone to dizziness or shortness of breath? If so, taking breaks and rest along the way might be helpful. It’s also a good idea to keep an eye out for any signs of distress, such as difficulty breathing or chest pain. In these cases, it’s essential to seek medical attention immediately.

Obtain consent before providing assistance

It’s essential to respect the individual’s autonomy and make sure they are comfortable with your help. Be sure to ask if they would like assistance before proceeding, and respect their wishes if they decline. It’s also a good idea to discuss any concerns or preferences they might have regarding the assistance you’ll provide. For example, they might prefer to use a handrail or cane, or they might prefer to go at their own pace.

Preparing for the Climb

Once you’ve assessed the situation and obtained consent, it’s time to prepare for the climb. Here are a few things you’ll need to do:

• Gather any necessary equipment : Depending on the individual’s needs and abilities, you might need to gather a few items to make the climb more comfortable and safe. For instance, a handrail or cane can provide extra support and stability for the individual. If the individual uses a walker or wheelchair, make sure it’s nearby and ready for use.
• Ensure the stairs are clear of any obstacles : Before you start climbing, take a moment to inspect the stairs and make sure they are clear of any obstacles that might cause a trip or fall. This might include tripping hazards like loose rugs or clutter, or wet spots on the steps. If you spot any hazards, remove them or mark them clearly to avoid any accidents.
• Position yourself and the individual for the ascent : Stand facing the individual, with your feet slightly wider than shoulder-width apart for balance. Have the individual hold onto your arm or shoulder for support, or encourage them to hold onto a handrail if one is available. If the individual is using a walker or wheelchair, position it in front of them and make sure they have a secure grip on the handles.

By preparing for the climb, you can help ensure that it goes smoothly and safely.

Providing Assistance

With your equipment gathered and the stairs clear of obstacles, it’s time to start climbing! Here are a few tips for providing assistance on the stairs:

• Support the individual’s weight and balance : As you begin to ascend, it’s important to support the individual’s weight and balance to help prevent slips or falls. You can use a few different techniques, depending on the individual’s needs and preferences. For instance, you might stand slightly behind them, with your arms wrapped around their waist or under their arms to provide support. Alternatively, you might have the individual hold onto your arm or shoulder while you provide support from the side.
• Maintain a secure grip : Ensure you have a good hold on the individual and the handrail to prevent slips or falls. It’s also a good idea to keep your own feet wide apart for balance and use a slow and steady pace to avoid any sudden movements.
• Use proper body mechanics : To avoid straining your back, keep your back straight and bend your knees to lift the individual. If you’re providing support from the side, try to keep your body close to the individual’s to help maintain balance.
• C ommunicate with the individual and provide verbal cues : As you climb, it’s essential to communicate with the individual and provide verbal cues to help them stay on track. Let them know when you’re about to take a step, and encourage them to take their time and rest if needed. If the individual is having trouble following verbal cues, you might try using hand signals or tactile cues to provide guidance.

Following these tips can help ensure that the climb goes smoothly and safely.

After the Climb

Congratulations, you’ve made it to the top! Now it’s time to debrief and review the experience with the elderly person. Here are a few things to consider:

• Discuss how the climb went : After the climb, take a moment to sit down with the elderly person and discuss how it went. Was it easy or difficult? Were there any challenges or concerns that came up during the climb? By talking through the experience, you can identify any areas where additional support might be needed and help the individual feel more confident and capable.
• Encourage independence : If the elderly person is able, encourage them to practice climbing the stairs on their own to promote independence and maintain mobility. Depending on their abilities and needs, you might start by having them hold onto a handrail or use a cane for support. As they become more comfortable and confident, you can gradually decrease your level of support.
• Seek additional resources and support as needed : If you’re feeling overwhelmed or uncertain about how to provide assistance, don’t be afraid to seek additional resources and support. There are many resources available to caregivers, including occupational therapy, support groups, and home care services. By seeking out additional support, you can help ensure that the elderly person’s needs are met and that you have the tools and resources you need to provide the best possible care.

Well, that’s it! With some preparation and simple techniques, you can safely assist an elderly person up the stairs. Remember to assess the situation and gather any necessary equipment, position yourself and the individual for the climb, and provide support and verbal cues as needed. And once you’ve reached the top, don’t forget to debrief and review the experience with the elderly person and encourage their independence.

Caring for an elderly loved one can be a rewarding but sometimes challenging experience. But by staying informed and seeking out additional resources and support as needed, you can help ensure that the elderly person’s needs are met and that they are able to maintain their mobility and independence.

Thanks for reading! We hope this article has been helpful and provided you with the tools and knowledge you need to assist an elderly person up the stairs safely .

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5 Ways To Prevent Falls, Slips, And Trips On Your Staircase

Home » 5 Ways To Prevent Falls, Slips, And Trips On Your Staircase

Stairs can help you go to other floors of a building structure. However, it’s also one of the reasons why you and other people trip, fall or slip. In worse-case scenarios, one can even sustain irreparable injuries. Moreover, disabled and elderly individuals are more prone to accidents from falling on stairs.

Ensuring Staircase Safety

The need to install and build stairs with strict precautionary measures should be implemented at all times for a quality structure. However, the reason for falling doesn’t always lie in the design of stairs alone. There are multiple factors involved, but incidents could be prevented.

These tips could help you avoid stair-related accidents:

Follow Stair Codes

One of the first things you should consider is to follow uniformity and standard codes of building stairs. Although some countries have stair codes that provide general guidance when installing a staircase, you should strictly comply with it.

You should prioritize consistency as a vital factor during construction and planning to help ensure safety. When constructing a staircase, each step must be uniform with one another. A slight change in height can cause the user to trip or fall over because people using the staircase will have consistent steps throughout.

In some cases, one step lower than the other may cause a fear of falling. The panicked feeling causes the person to react in an unsafe manner, resulting in the person tripping. Hence, you should consider a uniformed staircase.

Some cities and countries have International Building Code (IBC) required for uniform measurements. IBC commercial stair codes make sure establishments like hospitals and medical institutions have shorter steps to lessen the burden of the elderly and sick.

Also, the codes will stipulate specific handrails and measurements. Some will require the use of safety stickers to ensure visibility and traction. In cases where establishments don’t follow building codes or stair codes, the city will immediately instruct a renovation to ensure its citizens’ safety.

Add Lighting

Following proper stair codes is only the beginning to keep your stairs safe. Visibility can eliminate risk in any situation most of the time. That’s why your stairs must be well-lit to make sure it’ll be easy to see where you’re stepping at. It’d also be helpful if natural light can pass by for further lighting.

If there are uneven parts, the visibility will allow you to notice and react accordingly. However, when adding lights , you must give importance to contrast not only for aesthetic purposes. Using the shade can provide depth to each step, helping you and other individuals who don’t have good depth perception.

Also, make sure the style you’re using doesn’t deter the main point of installing lights. When placing the light on a stairway, check all the angles to avoid glaring because it can reduce visibility. Hence, make sure the height is adequate in providing light while avoiding random glares.

Don’t Forget Handrails

Aside from proper lighting, you should also create handrails to assist staircases in providing balance. Since balance prevents you from falling over or slipping from the stairs, installing these railings will immediately remove such risk.

These rails will become a grip point where you grab and hold yourself in position. Furthermore, you can use the grip to assist yourself up the stairs if you’re too tired or dizzy.

You might think it’s unnecessary for shorter stairways. However, keep in mind you’re not the only one using the stairs. Moreover, this will help you or your loved ones safely use the stairs.

Maintain It

Even if you’ve followed the stair codes, add lighting, and handrails, your staircase will still be at risk of accidents if you don’t maintain them properly.

Stairways, like any other part of the house, will be prone to wear and tear. It’s your job to maintain these stairs. An improperly maintained stairway would consist of broken or dirty steps, which can cause unpredictable events leading to injury.

You must clean your stairs at least once a week, or as needed, since dirt and grime attached to each step can cause loss of grip and traction, causing slips or falls. Wiping the handrails is important since a lot of people are touching them. Make sure to clean it regularly to prevent germs from spreading.

Also, check your stairs for broken parts as these steps can prevent anyone from using them appropriately, causing them to skip a step, which is unsafe. Not to mention if it breaks under your foot, you’ll indeed be in trouble. Check if there are loose metals or faulty areas, and have them fixed by your contractor.

Use Anti-Slip Tapes

To keep your stairs safer, you can also add anti-slip tapes. Most stairways have built-in anti-slip features to increase friction and avoid slips. However, these features can fade away over time, especially when the people walking have wet footwear.

That’s why many manufacturers combined the convenience of tape with traction-rich materials to create anti-slip tapes. You can use these tapes to provide quick solutions for areas requiring high friction and avoid slippage.

These tapes come with industrial-strength adhesive to ensure it sticks to the surface it attaches itself to. The adhesives can also handle extremes in temperatures, making them ideal for any climate. Place it on the edge of your steps to catch the foot when using the stairs.

When dealing with a stairway’s safety, it’s essential to get it right the first time to avoid any accidents. When you do this, there’ll be no need to reevaluate the steps and further accidents won’t happen again.

That’s why it’s essential to follow stair codes set by your state. Since you now know how consistency can prevent accidents on stairways, inform your contractor and ensure their quality of work. If it’s too late and your stairs have been built, you can add steps to mitigate the risk.

You can also add ample lighting to increase visibility when walking through the steps. Place anti-slip tape to ensure the grip of the surface area, and take the necessary precautions to prevent accidents.

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Struggling to Walk Up Stairs? Here’s What Your Body’s Trying to Tell You

Walking up the stairs is something many of us do several times a day. And while some people can climb two at a time with minimal effort, others may struggle with just one.

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Being able to walk up the stairs requires muscular strength, endurance, mobility, coordination and balance. In other words, your lower-body muscles have a lot going on at one time. If you feel weak and/or unsteady on your feet or experience pain in the knees, hips or ankles, you may need to strengthen a few parts of your body and focus on mobility and balance exercises.

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We asked Grayson Wickham, DPT, CSCS, founder of Movement Vault , to weigh in on why you might be struggling to walk up the stairs and tips to make it easier.

If You: Feel Weak in the Lower Body

You might: have low muscular strength.

The old saying "weak in the knees" is a reality for many people who struggle with climbing the stairs. According to Wickham, you need a baseline amount of leg strength to walk up stairs. And if you don't have it, getting up and down the stairs may not happen very easily, if at all.

The primary muscles involved in walking up stairs include your glutes, quadriceps and gastrocnemius (part of your calf). To get up and down the stairs, Wickham says you need to improve strength in these muscles.

Wickham recommends focusing on incorporating squat variations such as back squats, front squats, goblet squats and even body-weight squats to improve quadriceps strength.

For glute strength, include exercise such as glute bridges and deadlift variations such as single-leg deadlifts, Romanian deadlifts and traditional deadlifts with or without weight. And you can improve calf strength with exercises like calf raises or tip-toe walks, Wickham says.

Aim for 5 to 15 reps per set, with the last reps in your set being relatively difficult to perform. "You will typically use a heavier weight when focusing on improving muscular strength," Wickham says.

‌ Move 1: Body-Weight Squat ‌

• Start standing, feet hip-width apart.
• Extend your arms out in front of you and slowly bend your knees as you push your hips back to squat down. Focus on lowering your body as if you were going to sit on a chair.
• Squat down until your thighs are parallel with the floor, or as low as you can go comfortably while maintaining good form. Your knees should be over your toes and your gaze should be straight ahead.
• Pause for a moment at the bottom of your squat.
• On an exhale, reverse the motion by pressing through your heels to return to standing. As you stand, lower your arms back to your sides.

‌ Move 2: Glute Bridge ‌

• Lie on your back with your arms at your sides, feet flat on the ground and knees bent.
• On an exhale, squeeze your glutes, press into your heels and drive your hips up toward the sky.
• Raise your hips until you form a diagonal line from knees to hips to chest.
• Pause here for a moment.
• Reverse the motion and return to the starting position.

‌ Move 3: Calf Raise ‌

• Stand on the balls of your feet at the edge of a step or other raised platform.
• Lower your heels a few inches toward the floor.
• Press evenly through the balls of your feet and raise up as high as possible, elevating the heels toward the sky. Avoid putting all of your weight on the outside of the balls of your feet and make sure to keep your weight distributed through the ball of your feet.
• Pause here for a second.
• Fully lower your heels toward the floor so your calves are in a stretch.
• Return to the middle position and repeat.

If You: Feel Tired or Experience Muscle Fatigue

You might: lack muscular endurance.

Sure, you need to have the requisite amount of strength, but Wickham says you also need to have an adequate amount of endurance to walk up numerous steps or flights of steps. "Muscular endurance is the ability to repeatedly perform a movement or task without your muscles getting fatigued," he says.

Also, if you're out of breath, your heart and lungs might not be working efficiently. This could be due to a medical condition related to the pulmonary (lunge) or cardiovascular (heart) system. If you're concerned that it might be something more than just being out of shape, consult with a doctor before adding to your exercise routine.

To improve muscular endurance in your legs , Wickham suggests performing the same resistance exercises that you would for improving strength, such as squats, bridges, deadlifts and calf raises, but stick to a higher rep count and lower weight — or no weight.

Body-weight squats are an excellent move to add to your routine, especially since you can target muscular endurance by knocking out several reps per set. You can also incorporate more aerobic exercises like walking, swimming and bicycling into your week to improve overall cardiovascular fitness.

If You: Have Trouble Stepping Up

You might: have reduced mobility.

Mobility is the foundation for every movement you perform. Walking up the stairs, for example, requires your joints to move a specific amount. But when your joints are tight, Wickham says they restrict movement, making it very difficult to perform daily tasks.

Wickham says the most common mobility issues that prevent you from properly walking up stairs include tight hips and ankles. "Having tight hip flexor muscles prevents your hips from properly extending, which makes it difficult to complete a full step up," he says.

"Having limited ankle dorsiflexion range of motion is usually caused in part by having tight calf muscles, and tight calf muscles restrict your ability to get your ankle in the proper position needed to perform a step-up ," Wickham says.

To improve your hip and ankle mobility, he recommends performing stretches such as half-kneeling hip flexor stretch or ankle stretch.

‌ Move 1: Half-Kneeling Ankle Stretch ‌

• Get into a half-kneeling position with your right leg in front and bent to 90 degrees, left leg behind you with the knee, shin and top of the foot resting on the floor.
• Keep your torso upright and lean forward. The right knee will go forward while the heel remains in contact with the floor. You should feel the stretch in the calf of the front foot.
• Return the knee to the starting position and repeat.
• Do 10 times on each leg.

‌ Move 2: Half-Kneeling Hip Flexor Stretch ‌

• Keep your torso upright and press your hips forward, raising your left arm up and overhead. You should feel this stretch along the front of your left hip.
• Hold for 15 seconds, then switch sides.

If You: Feel Pain in Your Knees, Hips or Ankles

You might: have an injury.

If pain is getting in the way of climbing stairs, Wickham says you likely have issues with your knees, hips and/or ankles.

"The most common areas with pain or injury is your knees," he says. Knee pain is caused by numerous factors such as a traumatic injury or repetitive wear and tear of the joints due to poor mobility. "Having tight muscles and joints causes compensation in other joints, which can lead to pain and injury."

When one or more of your joints can't do their job, another joint has to take over, Wickham says. The problem with this scenario is the joint that is compensating was not designed to do this.

For example, if you have poor ankle mobility , your knee will compensate. "This results in poor movement at the knee, which leads to knee joint wear and tear and eventually, knee pain and injury," he says.

If pain is preventing you from walking upstairs, Wickham says you need to address the reasons that caused your pain in the first place. "Often, this pain or injury is due to having tight muscles and joints. In this case, you need to improve your hip and ankle mobility using the movements and exercises noted above," he says.

Wickham says walking sideways up the stairs is a movement modification that can help when dealing with pain or injury in the short term because it puts less stress and demand on your knees and hips.

But if you're dealing with pain or injury caused by a traumatic event such as a fall or accident, he says you may need to see a healthcare professional such as a physical therapist.

If You: Feel Unsteady or Fear Falling

You might: have coordination or balance issues.

Coordination and balance go hand-in-hand when performing any movement, Wickham says. "When you have poor coordination or balance, you will have difficulty performing movements, especially movements that require single-leg movement and balance such as walking up stairs," he says. This can make walking up stairs dangerous since it can increase your risk of falling.

"Any exercise or movement performed in a slow and controlled manner, while concentrating on the areas that are moving, will improve your coordination and balance," says Wickham. The key, he says, is focusing on the specific muscles and joints that are moving while performing an exercise.

If possible, Wickham recommends performing the exercises in a quiet area away from distraction. Some examples of coordination and balance exercises include hip and ankle circles (full range of motion), single-leg marches, single-leg balance and single-leg deadlifts.

‌ Single-Leg March ‌

• Get into a glute bridge position: Lie on your back with your arms at your sides, feet flat on the ground and knees bent. Squeeze your glutes, press into your heels and drive your hips up.
• Raise the right leg off the floor and bring it toward your chest. The left heel will stay in contact with the ground.
• Return the right leg to the floor and raise the left leg and bring it toward your chest. The right heel will stain in contact with the ground.
• Return the left foot to the floor and continue marching by alternating legs.
• March 20 times total, 10 each leg.

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10 important staircase safety tips that everyone should know

Stairs can be a danger whatever your age. Take our advice and make them safer for you and your family

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How safe are your stairs? It’s probably not the first thing you thought about when you were viewing your home-to-be, or even since moving in, but our staircase safety tips are worth serious consideration. Because according to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, RoSPA, falls on stairs claim the lives of 700 people in the UK every year. 

And as if that wasn’t shocking enough, more than 37,000 people end up in hospital every year following a fall on the stairs at home. Given the long-term impact a fall can have, it’s prudent to consider configuring your hallway to lower that risk. 

Happily, there are plenty of things you can do to make a staircase safer in an existing property. Meanwhile, RoSPA’s Safer Stairs campaign is lobbying Government for a change in Building Regulations that will make stairs in new-build homes safer. Read on to find out what you can do to protect yourself and your family.

Ashley Martin is Public Health Adviser for the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) and is an expert on all aspects of safety around the home, including staircase safety and fall prevention. He leads on accident prevention campaigns including Safer Stairs and Stay Up, Stand Up, and has appeared widely on national television and in the press, offering safety advice to the public. 

What is the Safer Stairs campaign?

‘Through our Safer Stairs campaign , RoSPA is calling for an Existing British Standard (BS 5395-1) to be made mandatory in Building Regulations for new-build properties and where anybody makes alterations in their home,’ explains RoSPA’s Ashley Martin. ‘This would improve the safety of stairs by insuring they are built to certain specifications. This takes into account the dimensions of the stairs, the rise, depth and consistency of the treads, slip resistance and also the provision of handrails.’  

This will mean that rather than simply recommending standards of safety, the Government will require house builders to build all stairs to this standard by law. Similarly, where work is undertaken to alter an existing staircase as part of a renovation, Building Regulations would require that staircase to meet BS 5395-1. 

‘While it’s not possible to go in retrospectively and make these changes in every home, quite often, where there are changes to building regulations, it applies to new homes and any homes where there are substantial renovations . It might depend on the circumstances, but there is a likelihood it will apply to homes being renovated,’ adds Ashley.

The result of improving these safety standards for stair design will significantly reduce the number of people needlessly dying and getting hurt. ‘It’s been estimated that by building all stairs to that standard it would reduce falls by around 60%,’ says Ashley Martin. ‘RoSPA is of course concerned about falls on stairs as they claim around 700 lives every year, and around 37,000 hospital admissions. This is a significant number, particularly when you consider the consequences of the fall. People, quite often, when they’ve had a fall, never recover their full mobility and strength.’ 

The Government has committed to a consultation on the subject within a year, and RoSPA is very hopeful that the lobbying will be successful. ‘This simple change could help reduce falls on stairs quite dramatically.’

What can I do to make my existing stairs safe?

‘We know our campaign is only part of the answer,’ says Ashley. ‘There will be many homes that have existing stairs that are not up to code. Then it’s just about trying to make them as safe as possible to prevent falls, and there are a number of things that can be done.’

1. Renovate your stairs completely

While costly, this is a surefire way to make your staircase safer – for example, by changing the pitch of your staircase to make the steps less steep. If you are particularly concerned about staircase safety tips – and we think you should be – it’s wise to get a staircase specialist to do the job. They are likely to be more aware of the safety standards regarding staircases, covered by Building Regulations Section K. Peter Wright is Sales Manager at  Neville Johnson : ‘When renovating a staircase, we always observe these standards and recommend additional safeguards where appropriate. There are many older staircases that don’t meet the current regulations so we look to improve the safety in any work we do.'

'This covers such key areas as the spacing between spindles, handrail heights, installing guarding adjacent to drops and avoiding horizontal features that can encourage children to climb.’

‘All our materials are tested for strength and suitability by external and independent testing experts… and our fitting processes, which have been through extensive R&D, are tried and tested. Many carpentry companies will say they can do staircases, we say we specialise in staircases.’

2. Keep your stairs completely free of clutter

This is something I’m sure most of us are guilty of, particularly when we are trying to save time on chores. ‘Get out of the habit of leaving things on the stairs to take up later,’ says Ashley Martin. ‘And make sure there are no tripping hazards on your stairs.’ 

So next time you go to leave a small pile of clean socks or the kids toys on the third step to ‘take up later’, either get the full climb over with, or leave them somewhere safer nearby. 

3. Light your stairs properly

‘One extremely important safety point is nothing to do with the stairs themselves, but rather, the lighting,’ says Ashley Martin. ‘Quite often, stairwells are dimly lit. We see the issue becoming more significant as people look to cut their energy usage, by reducing lighting in this area to save money. But it’s important to have very well-lit stairs as it does help to reduce falls.’ 

As stairs are high-traffic areas, it’s best to use lighting that won’t be too obtrusive. Low-level LED strips or side-mounted spotlights near floor level will highlight the treads well. It’s important that any wall lights are as flush as possible, so that they don’t catch against clothing. 

If you have small children, avoid lights that hang down through a spiral stairwell from long cords, as they may be tempted to reach out for them and fall. Plus you could knock your head against them. 

4. Brighten your stairs with paint and mirrors

Your well-chosen hallway lighting scheme could be undone by drenching the walls in a dark colour. So while stylish, this look should be considered carefully. ‘Tones of white will obviously be a suitable colour for a bright hallway and can look super stylish – especially if you think about painting woodwork something like a pale grey to give definition,’ says Crown colour expert Justyna Korczynska.

Other ways to bring light into a stairwell to help with staircase safety tips include the use of mirrors, painting woodwork – including balustrades and handrails – white or off-white, or using light-reflecting metallic paint over matt emulsion. 

5. Have a handrail… or better yet, two

‘Ideally you want handrails both sides of your staircase,’ says Ashley. ‘In some properties, that might be difficult, but do have them where possible. That will significantly reduce the risk of falling and give you something to grab onto if you do start to stumble.’

So if you ripped out your rail in favour of a fancy wall panelling idea , you really should consider reinstating it to align with staircase safety tips. 

‘If the stairs are being used by young or elderly then one of the simplest ways to improve safety on the stairs is to have a handrail both sides,’ agrees Peter Wright. ‘This is a particular benefit for people with knee or hip issues as it gives them a better balance being able to hold on both side. It also makes it easier to comfortably control their rate of descent.’ 

‘Our range of wall handrails span the traditional to the modern and are a far cry from the round “mop handle” that springs to mind for many people. If you don’t want to lose width to the staircase we have some very attractive low profile options that will add safety whilst also looking great.’

6. Consider your flooring carefully

‘Always make sure the floorcoverings on the stairs are in very good condition,’ advises Ashley. Look out for any rips or tears in carpet and repair them immediately, and ensure your surfaces are non slip. It’s not an area where you want to see a highly polished finish.’ 

If you are painting your staircase, use specialist floorboard paint or non-slip paint designed for use on wood.

Buy now: GoodHome Durable Sedona Matt Floor & stair paint, £22 for 750ml, B&Q

Stair carpets are suitable and safe, provided you choose the right type. In fact, Ashley Martin suggests that ‘it might offer more security’ over a wooden or painted stairway, ‘provided it’s in good condition’. 

Most carpet companies will recommend a wool or wool-mix carpet – such as wool/nylon – for stairs as they repel dirt and are less likely to flatten over time. Extra-thick carpets that are full of air offer less security underfoot, particularly when heading downstairs, and are to be avoided.

7. Don't dismiss a runner

If you don't like the look of a fully carpeted staircase but are worried that wood could prove too slippery, consider a stair runner idea . Runners provide the best of both worlds, the narrow-width floorcoverings run down the centre of the staircase exposing the wood at the sides of the staircase. 'Our 100% wool flatweave material has a woven construction that provides traction underfoot ensuring a safer environment,' says Jane Armstrong, Managing Director, Roger Oates Design . 'It is important that it is installed by someone experienced in fitting an unbacked flatweave  A good fitter will guarantee a high-quality installation which will ensure that the runner will perform better over its lifetime and will not become loose.' 

But what about those rods that hold a runner down? Could they be a trip hazard? 'Stair runners are now secured by a specialised type of gripper so rods are no longer functional in holding the stair runner in place,' Jane explains. 'In the right setting, they will add a decorative finish. However, if your treads are shallow it is best to avoid stair rods as they will reduce the amount of tread you have to step on.'

8. Fit stair gates, but only where appropriate

‘Safety gates are useful for children up to the age of 24 months,’ says Ashley Martin. ‘We don’t recommend them for children older than that, because the safety standard on such gates is only applicable to children up to 24 months. It’s related to the child’s weight and ability to either climb or open the gate once they reach 24 months. It’s important that as children move from the crawling to the toddling stage that they are then well versed in how to use the stairs safely, through guidance and supervision.’

‘The gates should be fitted securely according to the manufacturer’s instructions. You can buy pressure-mounted gates but we don’t tend to recommend those, particularly not for the top of the stairs, as it’s very difficult to ensure that pressure is adjusted correctly and safely. So while you may be reluctant to drill into walls, it is by far the safest way to attach a gate.’ 

‘We also recommend fitting gates at the top and the bottom of the stairs. People sometimes forget that if you put them at the top but then don’t have a stair gate at the bottom, a child could still climb up and fall backwards.’ 

Finally, Ashley has a warning for dog owners using gates to keep their hounds from travelling up or downstairs: ‘We are aware that some people use safety gates to try and restrict larger dogs by putting one gate on top of another. That’s a very, very dangerous practice as children have ended up getting caught between the gates.’ 

9. Avoid open-tread stairs

Open treads might continue to be a popular staircase trend, particularly in small hallways where light is an issue, but they can throw up safety concerns. ‘There is slightly additional risk when the back of the stairs is open – it can cause additional trip hazards,’ says Ashley Martin.  Staircase specialist A&T Carpentry agrees, stating on its website , 'The  UK building regulations  state that no part of a staircase or balustrade can have gaps of more than 100 mm. This is due to what is known as the “babies head rule”.  It tells us that a sphere of 100 mm diameter should not go through any gap for safety reasons. This includes the spacing of the balustrade uprights as well as the gaps between treads.' It's for this reason that we'd again always recommend using a specialist staircase supplier with a good working knowledge of British Standards and regulations if you're replacing your staircase. 

10. Take extra precautions if you are older

People of all ages fall on stairs. But of those 700 deaths reported by RoSPA, around two thirds of them will occur in people over 65, and the ability to recover from a fall diminishes as you get older.

'It might be worth considering a stairlift,' says Ashley. 'This won’t be appropriate for all staircases, and if you are introducing a stair lift, it could be a hazard for the people that aren’t using it. You’d potentially be losing a handrail on one side of the stairs, for example.’  

If you are considering a stair lift, contact your local authority to see if you are eligible for a Government Disabled Facilities Grant to pay for it. Also, check the stair lift you are buying adheres to all British Standards, which will govern the speed at with the lift travels, the weight it can bare, etc. 

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Amy Cutmore is an experienced interiors editor and writer, who has worked on titles including Ideal Home , Homes & Gardens , LivingEtc , Real Homes , GardeningEtc , Top Ten Reviews and Country Life . And she's a winner of the PPA's Digital Content Leader of the Year. A homes journalist for two decades, she has a strong background in technology and appliances, and has a small portfolio of rental properties, so can offer advice to renters and rentees, alike. 

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Climbing stairs may help you live longer and aid your heart – scientists

Regularly taking the stairs is linked to a 24% reduced risk of dying from any cause, research suggests., article bookmarked.

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Climbing stairs instead of using the lift is associated with better heart health and a longer life, scientists say.

New research suggests regularly taking the stairs is linked to a 24% reduced risk of dying from any cause and a 39% lower likelihood of dying from heart disease.

The scientists said the findings, presented at the European Society of Cardiology’s Preventive Cardiology conference in Athens , Greece , indicate that even short bursts of activity such as stair climbing could cut the risk of premature death.

Dr Sophie Paddock, of the University of East Anglia and Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital Foundation Trust, in Norwich, said: “If you have the choice of taking the stairs or the lift, go for the stairs as it will help your heart.

“Even brief bursts of physical activity have beneficial health impacts, and short bouts of stair climbing should be an achievable target to integrate into daily routines.”

Whether at work, home or elsewhere, take the stairs

Physical inactivity is associated with one in six deaths in the UK, according a report compiled by the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities.

Evidence suggests regular exercise can reduce the risk of early death and heart disease.

The NHS recommends at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise every week.

For the study, the team looked at data from nine studies involving more than 480,000 people, aged between 35 and 84 years.

Healthy individuals as well as patients with heart disease were included in the analysis, of whom 53% were women.

In addition to reducing the risk of premature death, stair climbing was also found to be associated with a lower risk of heart disease including heart attack, heart failure and stroke.

Dr Paddock said: “Based on these results, we would encourage people to incorporate stair climbing into their day-to-day lives.

“Our study suggested that the more stairs climbed, the greater the benefits – but this needs to be confirmed.

“So, whether at work, home or elsewhere, take the stairs.”

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Taking the Stairs Could Help You Live Longer

A new study from the U.K. shows that people who climbed the stairs reduced their risk of heart disease and early death.

Looking for a simple way to improve your heart health and live longer ? Skip the elevator or escalator and take the stairs, according to a new U.K. study. Researchers found that people who regularly took the stairs had a lower risk of dying of heart disease and dying from any cause, compared with people who skipped them. The research was presented today at  ESC Preventive Cardiology 2024 , a scientific congress of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC).

“Even brief bursts of physical activity have beneficial health impacts, and short bouts of stair climbing should be an achievable target to integrate into daily routines,” said Dr. Paddock.

Any and All Activities Count Toward Your Weekly Physical Activity Goal

Previous recommendations stated that a “bout” of exercise had to last at least 10 minutes to count toward the goal of 150 to 300 minutes per week of moderate physical activity or 75 to 100 minutes of vigorous activity. The updated guidelines, however, changed that to say any activity — even things like a brisk walk across the parking lot or vacuuming the house — can count toward your daily activity goals.

Climbing Stairs Reduced the Risk of Death by Nearly 40 Percent

To find out if something as simple as climbing stairs could reduce the risks of heart disease and premature death, researchers collected the best available evidence and conducted a meta-analysis of nine studies with nearly half a million participants.

Both healthy participants and people with a previous history of heart attack or peripheral arterial disease were included, and ages ranged from 35 to 84 years old.

Compared with not climbing stairs, stair climbing was associated with a 24 percent lower risk of dying from any cause and a 39 percent lower likelihood of dying from heart disease. Taking the stairs was also linked with a reduced risk of heart disease, including heart attack, heart failure, and stroke.

These findings suggest that incorporating stair climbing into your day-to-day life could have protective benefits, said Paddock.

Could some of these benefits exist because people who take the stairs have other healthy habits, including exercising regularly or eating a healthy diet? Maybe, says Paddock. “While our systematic review didn't control for other factors such as diet and other exercise, a lot of the original papers included in the analysis did. This would be an important factor in future studies, especially if we were to objectively measure the optimum quantity and intensity of stair climbing, which I think is important to do,” she says.

How Many Stairs Does It Take to Reap Health Benefits?

“Our study suggested that the more stairs climbed, the greater the benefits, but this needs to be confirmed. So, whether at work, home, or elsewhere, take the stairs,” said Paddock.

Those findings showed that short bursts of high-intensity stair climbing could be a time-efficient and easily accessible way to improve cardiorespiratory fitness and blood cholesterol levels, the authors concluded. And unlike more structured exercise activities, there’s no special equipment or gym fees required, they wrote.

It Could Be Difficult for People With Certain Conditions to Start Climbing Stairs

There are certain health conditions that may make climbing stairs difficult, says Mehta. “For example, severe valve disease, severe heart failure, underlying lung conditions, or debilitating joint issues. If someone is unsure about the safety of stair climbing, then they need to speak with their physician,” she says.

5 Flights of Stairs Sound Impossible? Here’s How to Get Started

Given the proven benefits, stair climbing could be a good way to incorporate small bursts of exercise throughout the day and should be achievable for most people, says Mehta.

She suggests that exercise newbies start out with one flight of stairs and slowly build up their capacity over time. “I think starting with a flight or two and building from there would be wise. We still don't know the optimum number of stairs that need to be climbed daily to protect our heart. Some studies (like the one mentioned above) have suggested that five to six flights per day (50 to 60 stairs) is sufficient,” says Mehta.

If you’re absolutely out of breath after just a flight or two, does this mean you’ve taken on too much or will your body adjust? If you’re completely winded after walking up a flight of stairs or two, it’s important to discuss this with your provider, she says. “Sometimes the shortness of breath could be due to significant medical issues like uncontrolled high blood pressure, or undiagnosed conditions like coronary artery disease , heart failure, or COPD ,” says Mehta.

You also may not have any of those things — it’s best to let your provider determine that, she says. “In some cases, being winded could be due to weight gain or deconditioning with incline-related exercise, and could get better as your conditioning improves,” says Mehta.

Editorial Sources and Fact-Checking

Everyday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy . We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions.

• Climb Stairs to Live Longer. EurekAlert! April 26, 2024.
• Physical Activity Guidelines, 2nd Edition. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. 2018.
• Physical Activity Among Adults Aged 18 and Over: United States, 2020. National Center for Health Statistics. August 2022.
• Song Z et al. Daily Stair Climbing, Disease Susceptibility, and Risk of Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease: A Prospective Cohort Study. Atherosclerosis . September 15, 2023.

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Bad Tourist Behavior Is Shutting Down Hawaii's Iconic Stairway To Heaven

• Hawaii's Haiku Stairs are being removed after a years-long disagreement over their use.
• Many residents protested the Stairway to Heaven's removal.
• The stairs should be removed before 2024 ends.

It only takes a few bad apples to ruin it for everyone. That has always been true and likely will always be true. Hiking Hawaii's iconic Haiku Stairs (called the Stairway to Heaven) has long been controversial but now the picturesque staircase is being torn down. In 2021, the future of the Haiku Stairs remained uncertain , but there were still ongoing fights to save the stairs.

The Haiku Stairs are made up of 3,922 steps making their way along a 2,800-foot mountain trail in Kaneohe. They used to belong to the military and have never fully been open to the public. Kaneohe is one of the quiet gems of Ohau boasting many things to see and do — besides illegally hiking the stairs — and soon, visitors will have to find other activities to enjoy as the Stairway to Heaven will be removed.

Hawaii Opted To Remove The Stairway To Heaven

The city council voted to remove the haiku stairs in 2021 and announced on 10 april 2024 that removing the stairs will start at the end of april.

CNN reported that the Stairway to Heaven leading up to Ko'olau is to be torn down as tourists continue to access the off-limits site. The stairs were built during World War II by the US Navy, but they have been closed to the public since 1987. Mayor Rick Blangiardi stated, “I can promise you that this was not a capricious decision.”

Persons caught attempting to access the Stairs are liable for a trespassing citation and a $1000 fine.

Despite being off-limits, the stairs continue to attract many YouTubers, TikTokers, and other thrill-seekers who decide to trespass. The city says the Haiku Stairs constitute a significant liability and expense for the city.

• Removing the Haiku Stairs will take six months or more and cost $2.5 million.

The city council cited public safety and stopping illegal trespassing, addressing significant liability for the city, the concerns of nearby neighbors, and preserving the natural beauty of the area as factors influencing the decision.

10 Places In The U.S. To Live For Year-Round Hiking

Friends of haiku stairs & the fight to preserve the stairway to heaven, despite being considered unsafe, the friends of haiku stairs claim they are safe and that most residents on the island wish to preserve them.

The Friends of Haiku Stairs stated they spearheaded the fight to save the stairs, claiming that the "Stairway to Heaven" is an iconic landmark and historic monument. They dispute the council calling them dangerous. They say the Haiku Stairs are one of the safest hikes on the island, with no deaths or serious injuries recorded on the stairs due to a fall, and that there have been no lawsuits against the city in 80 years.

According to the Friend of Haiku Stairs , most people (over 90% of those comments submitted) favor keeping the stairs.

"...over 5,000 public comments were submitted with more than 90% favoring preservation. A professional public opinion poll in April 2022 confirmed that a clear majority of O‘ahu residents want to save the Stairs not destroy them. The Stairs are a historic World War II monument eligible for the National Historic Register. They offer a unique, world-class hiking experience, treasured for generations. It would be tragic to lose them." - Friends of Haiku Stairs

While many may lament their loss, fortunately, Oahu boasts plenty of other excellent hiking trails that everyone can enjoy and explore the stunning tropical beauty of the island. The Haiku Stairs were just one of the many secret, scenic, and unique hikes found across the Hawaiian Islands .

Explore The Beauty of Diamond Head: A Must-See in Oahu

Background & history of the stairway to heaven, the stairs were first built by the navy in 1942 and made into steel stairs in the 1950s before being abandoned in 1987.

The Haiku Stairs climb Oahu's famous Ko'olau mountain range (designated a National Natural Landmark since 1972). The mountain range is not strictly a mountain range but a fragmented remnant of the island's eastern shield volcano. The original volcano was destroyed in prehistoric times when it slid cataclysmically into the ocean.

Timeline of the Stairway to Heaven:

• First built: 1942
• Metal stairs installed: 1950s
• Abandoned: 1987
• Vote to demolish them: 2021
• Demolish date: From end of April 2024

The Stairway to Heaven is a steep, steel step structure built by the US Navy in 1942 to provide pedestrian access to old communication facilities on Oahu. The Haiku Radio Station was a top-secret facility that transmitted to US Navy ships operating in the Pacific. The radio station was commissioned the next year, 1943.

The stairs were wooden at that time, but these were replaced with metal steps and ramps in the 1950s. The radio station, along with access to the stairs, closed in 1987.

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• STAIR RISER HEIGHT FAQs - CONTENTS : Q&A on stair step riser height specifications & codes.
• POST a QUESTION or COMMENT about stair and step riser heights and dimensions and building codes

We also provide a more comprehensive INDEX to RELATED ARTICLES for this topic, but we recommend that you use the page top or bottom SEARCH BOX as a quick way to find information you need.

On 2018-08-01 by (mod) - Can the top tread of a stair stringer be the same elevation as the finish floor ?

That's an interesting question; you're basically extending the floor area by the width of a stair tread, right?

Why would you do that? It pushes the whole stairway out by the depth of the stair tread in move that would be unnecessary - but then I can't see your situation, perhaps I'm missing something. I don't think we'll find an explicit prohibition in the stair codes, since the code writers can't and don't try to anticipate every possible variation on what people may invent. But a local building code inspector MIGHT interpret that top tread as a stair top platform.

A platform needs to run no less than 3 ft. in the direction of travel up and down the stairs, and yours would run what, maybe 11" - or whatever is your tread depth.

On 2018-08-01 John R

Can the top tread of a stair stringer be the same elevation as the finish floor ?

On 2018-06-30 by paula martin - fall at 3-step sstair in library

On 2017-12-20 1 by (mod) -

Yes 20" as a single step up is too-high a rise and would be a trip hazard. Typically step rise should be around 7"

On 2017-12-19 by Jamrs

I have two decks at different heights by 20 inches is a step required. ..jd

On 2017-11-25 by (mod) - fine tuning step riser height

On 2017-11-25 by (mod) - howw to fix a too-high final step rise

Grant I can't make a reliable prescription for a site I know nothing about. But sometimes it's possible to correct an improperly built concrete stairway by increasing the length of the run and then pouring or building new stairs atop what was already there. If you had 13 risers (at 8") and if I GUESS that you had a stair tread depth of 10" and if the stair builder had any sense and made all the steps or treads the same dimensions, then your stair run would be 13 x 10 = 130" or 10.8 feet in the horizontal direction. The ACTUAL stairway, AS BUILT, had a total rise of 12 x 8" + 8.75" (for that "last step) or a total of 104.75" (or I might be missing something as I don't really know your site) Let's GUESS from the above that the total rise of the stairway was that amount: 104.75" over those thirteen unfortunate steps. If you drop the individual step rise to 7" 104.75 / 7 = 14.96 steps to climb that height 7 inches at a time (per step) So we can build a stair with 15 steps. The exact step rise would be 6.98" - so the builder can certainly make that 7" with almost zero adjustment to the individual tread rises and he can certainly keep the step rise uniformity well within spec. Now if we have 15 steps with treads that are 10" deep then our new stair run (horizontal distance) is 15 x 10 = 150" or 12 1/2 feet. If you have room to extend the stair run to 12 1/2 feet you're in good shape.

On 2017-11-25 by Anonymous

Thank you What can be done from here? Does he have to demolish the staircase and do it again? Is there any other way of correcting it? Demolishing it all and beginning again would be a big job, but I will instruct him to do it if necessary.

On 2017-11-25 by (mod) - the last and highest step (the porch/landing) 8.75 inches high

It's more than an issue of Code Compliance and passing a final inspection that's also an issue of people falling and being injured.

On 2017-11-25 by Grant

I am in the process of having an external masonry staircase and porch landing demolished and rebuilt from scratch. At the bottom of this staircase is the sidewalk, and at the top, is the porch that leads directly to my front door.

Or is the riser height discrepancy not that big of a deal? The steps are poured concrete over a deck sheet, supported by 4 metal beams, supported by side walls. Underneath the staircase is hollow. The risers and treads are limestone. Thank you very much for your help.

On 2017-10-10 by (mod) -

Freddy Let's do a back-of-the-envelope calculation. Assume a 7" riser height. 94/7 = 13.4 risers but since we can't have a fraction of a step, we either increase to 14 risers (giving a step height under 7") or 13 risers (giving a step height just over 7". Let's use 13. 94" total rise / 13 risers = 7.23" individual riser height.

On 2017-10-09 19:58:13.014906 by Freddy

On 2017-10-09 by Freddy

On 2017-10-05 by Steph

On 2017-09-10 by Robert leite

On 2017-04-22 by (mod) - rule for height of landing above grade

On 2017-04-22 by Anonymous

On 2017-04-18 by (mod) - ok to make steps of different heights? No.

On 2017-02-05 by Jane

On 2017-01-28 by janet r ford

On 2017-01-24 by Anonymous

On 2017-01-11 by (mod) - ALL of the steps in a flight of stairs should be the same height

On 2017-01-11 by Anonymous

On 2016-06-15 by (mod) - variances allowed for open risers

On 2016-06-15 by Mr T

On 2015-11-19 by (mod) - Walkways, i.e. sidewalks, are not stairs.

On 2015-11-19 by Tom

On 2015-11-12 by (mod) - uneven steps are a trip hazard

On 2015-11-12 by Anita Chapman

On 2014-06-02 - by (mod) -

K. You want visual cues to call attention to the step, such as color differences on the two floors and perhaps a color difference on the face of the riser.m. That's my opinion, not a code citation.

On 2014-06-02 by K.

What about two rooms that are at different heights, so there is a single "step" up about 4". Any requirements for safety?

On 2014-05-27 - by (mod) -

Sinees NO that would be a trip and fall hazard.

On 2014-05-25 by [email protected]

can first step be smaller in height than the balance of the stairs (nj building codes)

On 2014-02-23 - by (mod) -

Isibro, that's an interesting question and I have no doubt that an attorney can find someone who will come up with a calculated number based on simple physics and terminal velocity but IMO the number would be rather unreliable considering that there are some most liklely unknown but important factors involved: whether or not a person attempted to interrupt a fall, directions of movement: forward vs vertical, actual distances between the person's shoulder at the start of the fall and the end of the fall - which is almost certainly not the simple step height. One also must know how far the person (or shoulder traveled AFTER the point of impact. You can hop over to a physics site where many of them give a nice online calculator for "Impact Force from Falling Object" if theory rather than actual impact force is what's of interest. It's not the approach I would take.

On 2014-02-21 by isibro o ochoa

my question is how fast would i be going before i hit the floor if i fell down a stairway approximatly four steps to the bottom which would be 32 inches.and land on my shoulder

On 2012-09-28 - by (mod) -

Anon, I agree, I would not rip out the stairs. To be fully compliant you can spread the adjustment over several smaller tread changes.

On 2012-09-18 by Anonymous

Oops! I'd better learn to read the whole article. Clearly this was addressed. It seems fairly absurd to re-string a set of stairs for such a minor variation in height.

I have a home under renovation with existing plywood floors. There is an existing stairway which meets code. That is, the riser heights are satisfactory and there is no deviation from step to step including the first step. However, I'll be adding a 3/4" hardwood floor over the existing plywood. This would reduce the initial riser height while the others remain at their original height. Is the 3/4" initial riser height difference acceptable? I certainly wouldn't want to rip out the stairway stringers and re-do it for just 3/4".

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• STAIR DIMENSIONS, WIDTH, HEIGHT
• STAIR CODES & STANDARDS - home
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• Or see the ARTICLE INDEX below for detailed articles on specifications for proper dimensions for stairs, railings, platforms

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• Berendt, John, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, A Savannah Story, Random House 1994, ISBN 0-679-42922-0 pp. 64-65.
• Grossman, Samantha, "WATCH: Everybody Trips on This One Subway Stair", [Video], Time Magazine, (29 June 2012), [After this video of a problematic Brooklyn subway staircase went viral, the MTA stepped in to fix the problem.], retrieved 2016/06/27, original source: http://newsfeed.time.com/2012/06/29/watch-everybody-trips-on-this-one-subway-stair/
• Templer, John. The staircase: history and theories. Vol. 1. Mit Press, 1995.
• Best Practices Guide to Residential Construction, by Steven Bliss. John Wiley & Sons, 2006. ISBN-10: 0471648361, ISBN-13: 978-0471648369, Hardcover: 320 pages, available from Amazon.com and also Wiley.com . See our book review of this publication.
• Eric Galow, Galow Homes , Lagrangeville, NY. Mr. Galow can be reached by email: [email protected] or by telephone: 914-474-6613. Mr. Galow specializes in residential construction including both new homes and repairs, renovations, and additions.
• [3] Stephenson, Elliott O., THE ELIMINATION OF UNSAFE GUARDRAILS, A PROGRESS REPORT [PDF] Building Standards , March-April 1993
• [4] "Are Functional Handrails Within Our Grasp" Jake Pauls, Building Standards , January-February 1991
• UBC 1003.3.4.3
• BOCA 1016.3
• ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act), Public Law 101-336. 7/26/90 is very often cited by other sources for good design of stairs and ramps etc. even where disabled individuals are not the design target.
• ANSI A117.4 Accessible and Usable buildings and Facilities (earlier version was incorporated into the ADA)
• ASTM F 1637, Standard Practice for Safe Walking Surfaces, (Similar to the above standard
• [7] The Circular Staircase, Mary Roberts Rinehart
• [8] Construction Drawings and Details, Rosemary Kilmer
• [9] Falls and Related Injuries: Slips, Trips, Missteps, and Their Consequences, Lawyers & Judges Publishing, (June 2002), ISBN-10: 0913875430 ISBN-13: 978-0913875438 "Falls in the home and public places are the second leading cause of unintentional injury deaths in the United States, but are overlooked in most literature. This book is unique in that it is entirely devoted to falls. Of use to primary care physicians, nurses, insurance adjusters, architects, writers of building codes, attorneys, or anyone who cares for the elderly, this book will tell you how, why, and when people will likely fall, what most likely will be injured, and how such injuries come about. "
• "A Parametric Study of Wall Moisture Contents Using a Revised Variable Indoor Relative Humidity Version of the "Moist" Transient Heat and Moisture Transfer Model [copy on file as/interiors/MOIST_Model_NIST_b95074.pdf ] - ", George Tsongas, Doug Burch, Carolyn Roos, Malcom Cunningham; this paper describes software and the prediction of wall moisture contents. - PDF Document from NIS
• [12] Slips, Trips, Missteps and Their Consequences, Second Edition, Gary M. Bakken, H. Harvey Cohen,A. S. Hyde, Jon R. Abele, ISBN-13: 978-1-933264-01-1 or ISBN 10: 1-933264-01-2, available from the publisher, Lawyers ^ Judges Publishing Company,Inc., www.lawyersandjudges.com [email protected]
• [13] Slips, Trips, Missteps and Their Consequences, Gary M. Bakken, H. Harvey Cohen, Jon R. Abele, Alvin S. Hyde, Cindy A. LaRue, Lawyers and Judges Publishing; ISBN-10: 1933264012 ISBN-13: 978-1933264011
• [14] The Stairway Manufacturers' Association, (877) 500-5759, provides a pictorial guide to the stair and railing portion of the International Residential Code. [copy on file as http://www.stairways.org/pdf/2006%20Stair%20IRC%20SCREEN.pdf ] -
• [17] Steps and Stairways , Cleo Baldon & Ib Melchior, Rizzoli, 1989.
• [18] The Staircase, Ann Rinaldi
• [19] Common Sense Stairbuilding and Handrailing, Fred T. Hodgson
• [20] The Art of Staircases, Pilar Chueca
• [21] Building Stairs, by pros for pro, Andy Engel
• [22] A Simplified Guide to Custom Stairbuilding, George R. Christina
• [23] Basic Stairbuilding, Scott Schuttner
• [24] The Staircase (two volumes), John Templar, Cambridge: the MIT Press, 1992
• [25] The Staircase: History and Theories, John Templar, MIT Press 1995
• [26] >Steps and Stairways, Cleo Baldon & Ib Melchior, Rizzoli, 1989.
• [27] "The Dimensions of Stairs", J. M. Fitch et al., Scientific American , October 1974.
• ANSI A1264.2
• ASTM D-21, and ASTM D2047 
• UL-410 (similar to ASTM D-21)
• NSFI 101-B  (National Floor Safety Institute)
• NSFI Walkway Auditing Guideline (WAG) Ref. 101-A& 101-B (may appear as ANSI B101.0) sets rules for measuring walkway slip resist
• OSHA - (Dept of Labor CFR 1910.22 does not specify COF and pertains to workplaces) but recognizes the need for a "qualified person" to evaluate walkway slipperiness
• ADA (relies on the ANSI and ASTM standards) 
• [29] A. Sacher, International Symposium on Slip Resistance: The Interface of Man, Footwear, and Walking Surfaces, Journal of Testing and Evaluation (JTE), ISSN: 1945-7553, January 1997  [more focused on slipperiness of polished surfaces
• [30] Algae is widely recognized as a slippery surface - a Google web search for "how slippery is algae on steps" produced more than 15,000 results on 8/29/12)
• [31] Slipperiness of algae on walking surfaces, warning, Royal Horticultural Society, retrieved 8/29/2012, original source: http://apps.rhs.org.uk/advicesearch/profile.aspx?pid=418
• [32] Slipperiness of algae: "Watch your step, wet rocks and algae are slippery" Oregon State University warning  1977  retrieved 8/29/2012, original source: http://www.worldcat.org/title/watch-your-step-wet-rocks-and-algae-are-slippery/oclc/663683915 
• [33] Coefficient of friction of algae on surfaces [like stair treads]: Delphine Gourdon, Qi Lin, Emin Oroudjev, Helen Hansma, Yuval Golan, Shoshana Arad, and Jacob Israelachvili, "Adhesion and Stable Low Friction Provided by a Subnanometer-Thick Monolayer of a Natural Polysaccharide", Langmuir, 2008 pp 1534-1540, American Chemical Society, retrieved 8/29/2012, Abstract: Using a surface forces apparatus, we have investigated the adhesive and lubrication forces of mica surfaces separated by a molecularly thin, subnanometer film of a high-molecular-weight (2.3 MDa) anionic polysaccharide from the algae Porphyridium sp. adsorbed from aqueous solution. The adhesion and friction forces of the confined biopolymer were monitored as a function of time, shearing distance, and driving velocity under a large range of compressive loads (pressures). Although the thickness of the dilute polysaccharide was
• [34] Jinjin Li, Yuhong Liu, Jianbin Luo, Pengxiao Liu, and Chenhui Zhang, "Excellent Lubricating Behavior of Brasenia schreberi Mucilage" Langmuir 2012 28 (20), 7797-7802
• [35] Jason R. Stokes, Lubica Macakova, Agnieszka Chojnicka-Paszun, Cornelis G. de Kruif, and Harmen H. J. de Jongh, "Lubrication, Adsorption, and Rheology of Aqueous Polysaccharide Solutions, Langmuir 2011 27 (7), 3474-3484
• [36] "Coefficients of Friction for Ice", The Physics Factbook™, Glenn Elert, Ed., retrieved 8/29/12, original source: http://hypertextbook.com/facts/2004/GennaAbleman.shtml
• [37] "Coefficients of Friction for Ice", The University of the State of New York Reference Tables for Physical Setting/Physics . New York: The State Education Department, 2002. Op. Cit.
• [38] Serway Physics for Scientists and Engineers 4th edition (p. 126.)
• [39] "How Slippery Is It", retrieved 8/29/12, original source http://www.icebike.org/Articles/howslippery.htm
• [40] John E. Hunter, "Friction Values", The Source , Society of Accident Reconstructionists, Winter 1998. Study of frictional values of car tires involved in collisions on snow or ice covered roadways.
• [41] Frictional Coefficients of some Common Materials and Materials Combinations, The Engineering Toolbox, retrieved 8/29/2012, original source: http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/friction-coefficients-d_778.html [copy on file as Friction and Coefficients of Friction.pdf ]
• [42] Stairways and Ladders, A Guide to OSHA Rules , OSHA, U.S. Department of Labor, 3124-12R 2003 - Web Search 05/28/2010 original source: http://www.osha.gov/Publications/osha3124.pdf. OSHA regulations govern standards in the construction industry and in the workforce Quoting from OSHA whose focus is on workplace safety and so excludes discussion of falls and stair-falls in private homes: OSHA estimates that there are 24,882 injuries and as many as 36 fatalities per year due to falls from stairways and ladders used in construction. Nearly half of these injuries are serious enough to require time off the job--11,570 lost workday injuries and 13,312 non-lost workday injuries occur annually due to falls from stairways and ladders used in construction. These data demonstrate that work on and around ladders and stairways is hazardous. More importantly, they show that compliance with OSHA's requirements for the safe use of ladders and stairways could have prevented many of these injuries. -osha.gov/doc/outreachtraining/htmlfiles/stairlad.html
• [43] International Building Code, Stairway Provisions, Section 1009: Stairways and Handrails, retrieved 8/29/12, original source: http://www.amezz.com/ibc-stairs-code.htm [copy on file as IBC Stairs Code.pdf]
• [44] Model Building Code, Chapter 10, Means of Egress, retrieved 8/29/12, original source: http://www2.iccsafe.org/states/newjersey/NJ_Building/PDFs/NJ_Bldg_Chapter10.pdf, [copy on file as NJ_Bldg_Chapter10.pdf] adopted, for example by New Jersey. International Code Council, 500 New Jersey Avenue, NW, 6th Floor, Washington, DC 20001, Tel: 800-786-4452
• Our recommended books about building & mechanical systems design, inspection, problem diagnosis, and repair, and about indoor environment and IAQ testing, diagnosis, and cleanup are at the InspectAPedia Bookstore . Also see our Book Reviews - InspectAPedia.
• Decks and Porches, the JLC Guide to, Best Practices for Outdoor Spaces, Steve Bliss (Editor), The Journal of Light Construction, Williston VT, 2010 ISBN 10: 1-928580-42-4, ISBN 13: 978-1-928580-42-3, available from Amazon.com
• In addition to citations & references found in this article, see the research citations given at the end of the related articles found at our suggested CONTINUE READING or RECOMMENDED ARTICLES .
• Carson, Dunlop & Associates Ltd., 120 Carlton Street Suite 407, Toronto ON M5A 4K2. Tel: (416) 964-9415 1-800-268-7070 Email: [email protected] . Alan Carson is a past president of ASHI, the American Society of Home Inspectors. Thanks to Alan Carson and Bob Dunlop, for permission for InspectAPedia to use text excerpts from The HOME REFERENCE BOOK - the Encyclopedia of Homes and to use illustrations from The ILLUSTRATED HOME . Carson Dunlop Associates provides extensive home inspection education and report writing material. In gratitude we provide links to tsome Carson Dunlop Associates products and services.

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Boarding @ airport. Stairs or bridge/jetway? - Kauai Forum

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Boarding @ airport. Stairs or bridge/jetway?

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4 replies to this topic

Thank you. We often travel Mexico and half the times, he needs to either deplane or board using the steep steps. Seems like such a simple thing, but not for one who has balance issues

Request boarding & unboarding assistance via wheel chair.

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