Stairs

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Stairs
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Stair Safety

• One of the leading causes of injuries today is
  the result of falling down stairs. With the
  increase in the development of stairways, there
  has to be an increase in stairway safety.
  Through the next few slides I will explain some
  major safety regulations, safety tips, and injury
  statistics regarding stairs.

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Injury Statistics

• Falls account for nearly 44 of all
  hospitalizations.
• Falls are the leading cause of hospitalizations
  among children and the elderly.
• 70 of hospitalizations among the elderly are
  caused by falling down stairs.
• 85 of child injuries are a result of falling
  down stairs.
• Each year, about 500 people in Canada die after
  falling on stairs.
• An estimated 1,307 people died from falling down
  stairs in 2000.

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General Requirements

• Stairs shall be placed at all personnel points of
  access where there is a break in elevation of 19
  inches or more.
• Employees shall not use any spiral stairways on
  which construction work is being performed.
• At least one point of access between levels shall
  be kept clear at all times.
• Employer shall provide and install all fall
  protection systems required.

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Stairways

• Stairs shall be installed between 30 deg. and 50
  deg. from horizontal.
• Riser height and tread depth shall be uniform
  with no more than a ¼ inch variation.
• A platform shall be provided for any doors or
  gates located on stairway.
• All parts of stairways shall be free of hazardous
  projections and shall be eliminated before use.

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Temporary Services

• Pan stairs with treads or landings that are to be
  filled in with concrete at a later date must be
  temporarily fitted with wood or other solid
  material.
• Skeleton metal stairs where permanent treads or
  landings are to be installed at a later date must
  be fitted with secured temporary treads or
  landings.

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Stair rails and Handrails

• Stairways having 4 or more risers or rising more
  than 30 inches shall have at least 1 handrail and
  1 stair rail system along each unprotected side.
• Stair rails shall not be installed less than 36
  inches from surface of stair rail system to
  surface of tread.
• Handrails shall not be installed less than 30
  inches or more than 37 inches from surface of
  handrail to surface of tread.

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Safety Check List

• Bottom Landing
• Newel Post
• Handrails, Safety-rails, Guardrails
• Balustrade
• Treads
• Nosing
• Material

• Geometry
• Ramp
• Lighting
• Stringer/Carriage
• Top Landing
• Stair Condition
• Platforms

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Top 10 Hazards in Stair Instillation

• Balusters when improperly spaced, a child can
  slip through or can get their head caught.
• Circular or Helical Stair tread at fulcrum too
  narrow, stair not ergonomically designed for
  safety.
• Flight too long too many steps causes fear of
  falling or fear of height.
• Ergonomics Conditions of stair not ergonomically
  designed or built.
• Angle stair or ramp too steep.
• Handrail / Safety-Rail improper finger
  clearance, railing is missing, loose, broken, not
  strong enough, too large, too wide, too thin, not
  continuous from landing to landing, not smooth,
  too hot, too cold, splintery, not maintained, not
  sanitary looking, not of a contrasting color with
  background.

• Platform or Landing surface not slip resistant
  and has a sharp object, blunt wall or window in
  the possible fall direction.
• Nosing missing, broken, worn, patched, loose,
  slippery, abrupt raised upper surface, sharp
  corners, not installed properly.
• Ramp steep, no handrail, slippery, too long.
• Riser not equal height on all steps in the
  flight missing shifted out of stringer open
  type with too much over-hang from the step above,
  too little over-hang.

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Stairway Safety Tips

• Use the handrail.
• Install bright lights and on/off switches at the
  top and bottom of each stairwell and over porches
  and entryways.
• Keep stairways and steps clear of all objects.
• Check stairs for worn or loose carpeting or
  protruding carpet tacks.
• If your steps have a smooth surface, consider
  installing anti-slip tread to provide safer
  traction.

• In homes with young children, use safety gates at
  the tops and bottoms of stairways.
• If you have steps outside your home, keep them
  free of ice and snow.
• To prevent a tripping hazard, periodically check
  steps and walkways for broken or lose bricks,
  cement or stone.