Research studies have shown that in the UK alone approximately 1000 deaths occur as a result of falling down a flight of stairs. This is a scary statistic! In light of this it will come as no surprise then that, as an injury on stairs is worryingly easy and common to do, the legal responsibilities are quite rightly significant to ensure that any person or company that is responsible for maintaining a stairway must do so to a high standard to ensure no one is ever hurt through the use of stairs.
It is important to realise that those who fit or manufacture stairways are under a legal obligation to ensure that their stairs are free from any defect or hazard that could cause a person an injury; say, a bump, or a protrusion. As well as preventing defects, they must ensure that each step is of the correct height and width for its intended use. Handrails and appropriate support must be in place for the obvious reasons.
In addition to designers and manufacturers, it is similarly important to understand that employers are under a legal obligation to ensure that the working environment is safe for their employees, keeping accidents on and around a staircase to a minimum at all times.
Employers must ensure that any stairways in the working environment must be free from any obstacles which may be obscuring a clear path. Moreover, they must make sure that any unstable or slippery surfaces are addressed and rectified as soon as possible, and in situations where the vicinity surrounding a stairway is poorly lit, or visibility is compromised, they must ensure that sufficient lighting or warning signs are present in order to prevent any accidents from occurring. Handrails and support features are also an obvious requirement to ensure employees can use stairs with as little danger of falling as possible.
Finally, in relation to businesses such as supermarkets and banks, these organisations are under an obligation to provide safe and fault proof stairs in their establishments so that visitors do not end up injured.
Ultimately, the injuries from stair accidents can be very severe indeed. If you’re lucky enough to avoid a serious head injury or fractured bone(s), you should still always speak to an expert injury lawyer to find out if you can make a claim for compensation.
