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Product category: Stairs and Escalators
News Release from: Laidlaw Solutions | Subject: Falls from the Stairs
Edited by the Buildingtalk Editorial Team on 09 June 2008

Falls from the Stairs

Of the many statistics about slips, trips and falls, perhaps the most poignant is that they account for around a quarter of all major injuries in the workplace: and stairs deserve special attention

It may come as a surprise that as long ago as 1992 The Guardian listed John Templer's work The Staircase as one of its publications of the year The depth of information and research that the book contained also prompted The Los Angeles Times to write a double page article about it

Now an acknowledged source of reference, it draws attention to an element of construction which continues to present a health and safety problem.

Of the many statistics about slips, trips and falls, perhaps the most poignant is that they account for around a quarter of all major injuries in the workplace.

Running and walking injuries are not industry specific.

In schools, where pupils tend to be oblivious to hazards, there has been no distinct rate of reduction.

In 2005/6, for example, there were 8367 injuries resulting from slips and trips, 5440 of them involving children, and 1357 involving employees.

The statistics are much the same whether you look at further/higher, secondary and primary education.

Construction associated accidents attributable to slips and trips increased every year between 1997 and 2003, in total by 68%.

Falls from height in construction understandably attract attention due to the fatalities and serious injuries which result from them, but the number of 'over 3-day' accidents resulting from slips and trips has consistently been greater (1975 compared to 804 in 2005/6).

Requirements for stairs and handrails in buildings other than dwellings, set out in Approved Doc Part M, now mean that handrails must be designed to accommodate all users.

They must be continuous and terminate beyond the top and bottom of a flight in a way that reduces risk, for example, of clothing being caught.

In addition to being sited either side of a stairway, additional rails to divide the flight into channels not less than 1.0 metre wide takes account of the particular needs of busy environments such as schools.

It may not be possible to ensure that rails are used, but narrower isles control traffic flow and place stair users in closer proximity to a point of safety.

In addition to the need for handrails which are continuous to grip, adequate visual contrast must be provided against their background.

Research has shown, however, that for the partially sighted, ability to appreciate visual differences is more reliably achieved through a surface's light reflectance value (LRV) rather than just its colour.

In the 2004 edition of AD M and the 2005 amendment of BS 8300, reference to difference in LRV became the preferred way of expressing guidance on visual contrast.

Roy Bradburn, Operations Director for the Handrail and Balustrade Division of Laidlaw Solutions , commented "The LRV is measured on a scale of 0 -100, with jet black equivalent to zero and a perfect white 100.

These values, however, are never achieved in practice and the 2005 amendment to BS8300 recognised that visual perception is affected by the relative area of surfaces and whether they are textured, curved, metallic or glossy.

BS8300 is shortly to be updated and LRV's will be almost certainly be covered in greater detail".

In terms of effective use of handrails, there is some debate about what constitutes an appropriate diameter rail.

If the size is to be reduced say to 35mm, risk is greatly increased of hands catching against uprights.

In situations where the need exists to resist higher horizontal loads, a 3kN system requires a 60mm (as against a standard 38-40mm) diameter rail anyway.

Infill choice is particularly important as AD K requires buildings likely to be used by children under 5 to be safe against climbing the balustrade guarding.

Far greater use of structural glazing has resulted, even in environments such as universities where its use might not be considered essential.

Tinted and acid etched glazing provides scope for more contemporary design, but the visual clarity and security which it provides are its greatest attributes.

The extent, however, to which structural glazing and handrail and balustrade upgrades will have a positive effect on falls and slips on stairs remains to be seen.

The contribution of individual elements can be hard to measure and, as always, the human nature is the biggest potential limiting factor.

But as Roy Bradburn concluded: "A combination of effective visual, tactile and touch characteristics can only help handrails and balustrades act as a catalyst to a change in safety attitudes.

We firmly expect the next round of statistics to reflect the contribution that upgraded handrails is making".

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