There is no denying the importance of a staircase if your building has more than one floor. With most buildings operating this layout, you should ensure that the staircases you walk up and down on a daily basis in a suitable condition to avoid any falls and trips that can potentially cause serious injury.
Although staircases can prove to be a beautiful and stylish link between floors, your top priority should be doing everything in your power to make sure that they are safe for use – giving them a consistent form of visual and physical maintenance will help you prevent accidents in the future.
Take your time during both ascent and descent
One of the main causes of accidents on a staircase is when people trip over a step from rushing either up or down their stairs. Are you wanting to grab that thing you’ve left in your bedroom before you leave the home? Or are you racing back to the living room to catch your favourite show now it’s returned from an ad break? If so, it will be beneficial in taking a little more time in negotiating your staircase to ensure that you don’t trip and fall.
Falling down the stairs will almost certainly cause more delays than if you spend a few more seconds in watching your footing while making your way up or down the stairs. It is better to be safe than sorry, right?
Leave nothing lying around
Staircases can be quite difficult to climb up and walk down at the best of times, even when they are free of any obstacles or debris! However, if you are guilty of leaving items on the stairs (we know there are a few of you out there) then this will prove a major hazard, eliminating some of the space that your staircase provides.
The hazard’s don’t just stop there, if you have a wood staircase, then you will need to keep an eye on any spills that could cause a pretty dangerous slip hazard. This is normally something more important to consider if your steps are not carpeted, as the spill will sit on the surface instead of soaking into it.
Check your lighting
Another way of keeping the area around your staircase safe is by checking whether the lighting in the room is satisfactory. A poorly lit hallway or stairwell could prove costly for people using the staircase on a daily basis. If you are unable to see where the next step is, this can lead to a loss of footing resulting in a trip or fall. If your stairway looks too dark, then it probably is. So be sure to invest in some strong lights that make this area easier to negotiate.
When installing a new staircase, it could be wise to evaluate your lighting, especially if you are changing materials. Wood will reflect the light more which will naturally improve the light source on your stairs but if you have a dark carpet as part of your décor then you might want to check on the standard of your lighting before finishing off your design.
Contact the team at Abbott-Wade
Do you have any questions about keeping your staircase safe after a staircase renovation? If so, be sure to get in touch with the expert staircase manufacturers at Abbott-Wade today! We will happily share our expertise and answer any enquiries you may have. Simply give us a call on 01744 634 442 to contact us directly or fill out our online enquiry form with a detailed question. One of our team will always get back to you as soon as possible!
