How to make stairs safer
Most accidents on stairs could be avoided if the handrail was used consistently.
Around one third of tripping and falling accidents occur on stairs. According to Suva, each stair accident results in costs of around 6200 Swiss francs - that's 600 Swiss francs more than the average cost of a tripping accident. Stairs are thus a focal point of accidents. To prevent accidents, Suva advises making stairs safer - but also raising awareness among users.
Design stairs safely…
- 85 percent of stair accidents happen at the beginning or end of the stairs. It is therefore important to make the first and last steps of the stairs, as well as the intermediate landings, highly visible.
- Lighting on stairs is of central importance. The edges of the steps must be clearly visible.
- Non-slip and cleaned stair treads help prevent accidents.
- A staircase is not a storage space: any object placed on it can become a tripping hazard.
...and use safely
At the same time, however, the users are also called upon. Suva advises safe use of stairs:
- take your time - in a hurry missteps happen quickly
- use the handrail
- do not look at the cell phone or tablet
- pay particular attention to the first and last stages.
Suva offers a small poster on the subject of safe stairs. It is available free of charge in the Suva webshop to obtain.
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