Make your staircase safe
Stairs get us to next level of a building but can be very dangerous at the same time. Falls may occur when stairs are poorly designed, constructed, maintained, or used the wrong way.
BY ANTHONY OLWOCH
Stairs get us to next level of a building but can be very dangerous at the same time. Falls may occur when stairs are poorly designed, constructed, maintained, or used the wrong way.
Bongomin Benjamin, an engineer in Mutungo, says ensuring the safety of stairways must start at the point of construction. Regularly evaluating the safety of existing staircases is also important in preventing falls.
“Treads, that is, the part of the step on which the foot is placed, should not be too narrow. They should be wide enough for more than half of an adult’s foot to fit,†says Bongomin. “A possible cause of stair accidents is slippery tread surfaces. This can happen when the wrong type of tiles is used or when the treads are polished. The best types of tiles for stairs are those made of non slip material.â€
When the risers (the vertical portion between each tread on the stair) are too high or too low, one can easily stumble and fall. The tread surface can be especially slippery at the nosing (the part of the tread that protrudes over the riser beneath). To avoid tripping on the nosing, it is recommended that it should not exceed 1.25 inches. Tread patterns that make the nosing hard to distinguish from the the tread should be avoided when choosing tiles for stairs.
Tom Kizito, an engineer in Ndeeba, says when one is buying a new house or moving into a rented house, it is important to check how many steps exist in a flight. The flight should not exceed twelve steps in order to avoid accidents.
A landing (the area of floor at the bottom or top of a stair) can be used between stairs to allow users change direction and break the movement.
“The landing should be wide enough to allow one to rest and turn properly before starting to climb again. The lighting of the landing and stairway should be adequate for good visibility. It is recommended that windows be fitted in such areas,†adds Bongomin.
Kizito says handrails are a very important component of the stairway. When they are not included, loose or broken, accidents are likely to happen. Tiles that are loose, worn, or improperly installed also make the stairway unsafe. Placing rugs at the top or bottom of the stairs can also increase the risk of a fall because they may trip users.
A sign should be placed above the stairs to alert visitors of their presence.
Stairs get us to next level of a building but can be very dangerous at the same time. Falls may occur when stairs are poorly designed, constructed, maintained, or used the wrong way.
Bongomin Benjamin, an engineer in Mutungo, says ensuring the safety of stairways must start at the point of construction. Regularly evaluating the safety of existing staircases is also important in preventing falls.
“Treads, that is, the part of the step on which the foot is placed, should not be too narrow. They should be wide enough for more than half of an adult’s foot to fit,†says Bongomin. “A possible cause of stair accidents is slippery tread surfaces. This can happen when the wrong type of tiles is used or when the treads are polished. The best types of tiles for stairs are those made of non slip material.â€
When the risers (the vertical portion between each tread on the stair) are too high or too low, one can easily stumble and fall. The tread surface can be especially slippery at the nosing (the part of the tread that protrudes over the riser beneath). To avoid tripping on the nosing, it is recommended that it should not exceed 1.25 inches. Tread patterns that make the nosing hard to distinguish from the the tread should be avoided when choosing tiles for stairs.
Tom Kizito, an engineer in Ndeeba, says when one is buying a new house or moving into a rented house, it is important to check how many steps exist in a flight. The flight should not exceed twelve steps in order to avoid accidents.
A landing (the area of floor at the bottom or top of a stair) can be used between stairs to allow users change direction and break the movement.
“The landing should be wide enough to allow one to rest and turn properly before starting to climb again. The lighting of the landing and stairway should be adequate for good visibility. It is recommended that windows be fitted in such areas,†adds Bongomin.
Kizito says handrails are a very important component of the stairway. When they are not included, loose or broken, accidents are likely to happen. Tiles that are loose, worn, or improperly installed also make the stairway unsafe. Placing rugs at the top or bottom of the stairs can also increase the risk of a fall because they may trip users.
A sign should be placed above the stairs to alert visitors of their presence.