Millions of people each day use stairs in workplaces, stores, malls or even their own homes. While stairs are often used with no problem, unsafe stairs may cause people serious injury or even death. If you are a Connecticut property owner who is worried about your stairs presenting hazards to pedestrians, keep in mind several crucial methods that could improve the safety of your stairs. warns to keep stairs clean of debris. Heavily trafficked stairs might attract food, gum wrappers, bits of paper or anything that a human being might drop while walking up or down. Litter on the stairs can cause trip hazards, so a stairwell should be kept as clean as possible. If you feel it necessary, post a warning for people not to litter on your stairs.

Stairs should also have adequate support for pedestrians. According to OSHA, stairwells in the workplace that extend higher than four feet should have a guard rail. A railing provides a buffer for people to avoid falling from the stairs. If a set of stairs is contained within a stairwell, even though the stairs are not exposed to open space, having a handrail to hold on to is still important so that pedestrians can maintain balance as they use the stairs.

Additionally, pay attention to weather conditions. People may track rainwater, ice or snow from a winter storm inside a building. If water and ice build up on your steps, take action to clean off the stairs so that people do not slip and fall. Also consider posting signs warning pedestrians about slip hazards.

Keep in mind that this article is not written to give you legal advice. This piece is intended only for educational purposes about personal injury topics.