Safety standards, requirements, and litigation in relation to building use and safety, especially safety from falls involving stairs

Abstract

In most countries falls (from stairs) are the leading category of non-traffic accidents in terms of serious injuries and fatalities. Impetus for changes in building safety standards and codes comes from accident statistics, research findings and litigation cases. The interaction of societal factors is illustrated extensively through case studies of specific accidents, ensuing litigation, and changes to building codes and safety standards. Revisions to some standards are narrowing the gap between generally applicable minimum requirements and the specific expectations to meet by designers, owners and managers in particular situations. Such investigations, along with formal research findings, also point out serious flaws in longstanding accident reduction programs promoted by national safety organizations. Traditional cliches and slogans must be replaced by design and retrofit interventions based on a human factors appreciation of the major role of environmentally triggered human error. Openness of standards and codes revision processes (to the participation of all interested organizations and individuals) helps to balance the conflicting interests of those concerned with improved safety and with the preservation of status quo in relation to building technology. Stairs are the example of the contradiction. Finally, drawing especially on North American research, a distinction is made between accident prevention and injury reduction in relation to falls from stairs. Both approaches are needed to reduce significantly the toll of casualties from falls from stairs. These result in annual societal cost, in the U.S., of over 2000000000 dollars — a cost equalling the annual cost of construction of the stair facilities.