Each year, 8 million people or more are treated for fall-related injuries. In fact, falls are the leading cause of nonfatal, unintentional injuries treated in U.S. hospital emergency rooms, according to statistics from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. There are a number of factors that contribute to slip-and-fall and trip-and-fall accidents on stairways , the most common being deficiencies in design, lighting and visibility. There are several design issues landlords and building owners and property managers would be well advised to pay attention to in order to reduce these types of stairway accidents that could potentially result in major injuries.
Stairway Design
Research has consistently shown that during stairway use, pedestrians only view the first and last three steps. The rest of the stairway is typically negotiated without looking. This is why the design of the top three and bottom three steps is critical. Studies also show that more serious upper or lower extremity injuries occur when a person is going down a stairway rather than up a stairway.
When it comes to stairway descent, the tread depth (horizontal surface) must be sufficient for the ball of the foot to land on the tread without extending over the step below. If not, an over-step or misstep could occur causing a fall forward. Trip and falls that occur when pedestrians are going up are often due to variation in riser height or the height of the vertical surface.
It is important that all tread and riser dimensions are uniform throughout the entire stairway. Most building codes require risers not to vary more than 3/8 or 1/8 of an inch between the tallest and the shortest riser within a given flight of stairs. Stairways that have more than 12 steps should have an intermediate landing, which should be free of any raised areas or trip hazards.
Stairway Visibility and Handrails
When risers and/or treads are not properly visible, this could lead to missteps. There are several design steps that can be taken to increase visibility including providing visual contrast on tread nosings so treads are more visible to pedestrians. According to the U.S. Access Board Research, surfaces colored safety yellow are the most visible. Where lighting is low, each step should be highlighted using step lighting.
Stair rails and handrails are both needed for different purposes. Stair rails also known as guardrails protect pedestrians from falling off the edge of the stairs or landings while handrails help pedestrians keep their balance and provide leverage while going up or down the stairs. The lack of handrails or poor positioning of handrails is often cited as a cause of stairway falls. Well-designed handrails can help reduce the probability of a fall and may also serve to limit the distance down the stairs when a fall does occur. The installed handrails should also be visible under low light conditions.
Tripping Hazards
Changes in floor level are among the most common causes of “air step” falls. These falls occur when the stairway design makes it difficult for pedestrians to perceive the change in floor level. These may also be the most serious stairway accidents. Inadequate stair dimensions, missing railings, improper railing heights and poor lighting may also contribute to these trip and fall accidents.
Many stairway accidents also occur due to inadequate maintenance. Property owners and property managers should keep stair treads clean and in good condition. There should be no excessive wear, missing or loose treads. Carpeted stairs should be maintained in good condition. Holes in the carpet, for example, may pose trip and fall hazards. Stairs should not be used for storing objects. Nothing should be sticking out of the surfaces of stairs, handrails or bannisters. Spills, wet spots or any debris should be immediately cleaned up. Broken or malfunctioning lighting should be promptly repaired or replaced.
Contacting an Experienced Lawyer
Injured victims of these types of accidents may be able to file a premises liability lawsuit against the negligent property owners and managing agents etc. and seek compensation for damages including, but not limited to, medical expenses, lost income and benefits, hospitalization, rehabilitation, permanent injuries, disabilities, past and future pain and suffering, etc.
If you or a loved one has suffered injuries as a result of negligence on the part of property owners and/or property managers etc., the experienced New York personal injury attorneys at the Law Offices of Kenneth A. Wilhelm can help you better understand your legal rights and options, and also fight hard to recover just compensation for you.
Please contact us TOLL FREE 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-800-WORK-4-YOU (1-800-967-5496). WE CAN EVEN COME TO YOU. There is no attorneys’ fee unless we recover money for you. We can also help with personal injury cases in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, or Florida. If you have been seriously injured in any of the 50 U.S. states, please call us and we will try to help you with your case.
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Source: http://www.ehstoday.com/ppe/fall-protection/ehs_imp_75425