Stairs, stairways and handrail safety requirements issued by OSHA. Test your knowledge. Stairs and stairways checklist. Test your knowledge: How many inches of elevation change can there be before a ladder, ramp, or step is required? How many steps can stairs have before handrails or stair rails are required? What is the width requirement for stairways? 
Stairs and stairways checklist provided by OSHA.| | Are standard stair rails or handrails on all stairways having four or more risers? | | | Are all stairways at least 22 inches wide? | | | Do stairs have landing platforms not less than 30 inches in the direction of travel and extend 22 inches in width at every 12 feet or less of vertical rise? | | | Do stairs angle no more than 50 and no less than 30 degrees? | | | Are step risers on stairs uniform from top to bottom? | | | Are steps on stairs and stairways designed or provided with a surface that renders them slip resistant? | | | Are stairway handrails located between 30 and 34 inches above the leading edge of stair treads? | | | Do stairway handrails have at least 3 inches of clearance between the handrails and the wall or surface they are mounted on? | | | Where doors or gates open directly on a stairway, is there a platform provided so the swing of the door does not reduce the width of the platform to less than 21 inches? | | | Where stairs or stairways exit directly into any area where vehicles may be operated, are adequate barriers and warnings provided to prevent employees stepping into the path of traffic? | | | Do stairway landings have a dimension measured in the direction of travel, at least equal to the width of the stairway? |
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Protection of Open-Sided Floors, Platforms, and Runways
One of the most frequently overlooked requirements in walking-working surfaces is the requirement that every open-sided floor or platform 4 feet or more above adjacent floor or ground level shall be guarded by a standard railing on all open sides, except where there is an entrance to a ramp, stairway, or fixed ladder. The railing shall be provided with a toe board wherever, beneath the open sides:
Persons can pass,
There is moving machinery, or
There is equipment with which falling materials could create a hazard.
Every runway shall be guarded by a standard railing, or the equivalent, on all sides 4 feet or more above floor or ground level. Wherever tools, machine parts, or materials are likely to be used on the runway, a toe board shall also be provided on each exposed side.
Regardless of height, open-sided floors, walkways, platforms, or runways above or adjacent to dangerous equipment, pickling or galvanizing tanks, degreasing units, and similar hazards shall be guarded with a standard railing and toe board.
Stairway Railings and Guards.
Every flight of stairs with four or more risers shall have standard stair railings or standard handrails as specified below. Stair width is measured clear of all obstructions except handrails.
On stairways less than 44 inches wide having both sides enclosed, at least one handrail shall be affixed, preferably on the right side descending.
On stairways less than 44 inches wide with one open side, at least one stair rail shall be affixed on the open side.
On stairways less than 44 inches wide having both sides open, two stair rails shall be provided, one for each side.
On stairways more than 44 inches wide, but less than 88 inches, one handrail shall be provided on each enclosed side and one stair rail on each open side.
On stairways 88 inches or more in width, one handrail shall be provided on each enclosed side, one stair rail on each open side, and one intermediate stair rail placed approximately in the middle of the stairs.
A "standard stair railing" (stair rail) shall be of construction similar to a standard railing, but the vertical height shall be not more than 34 inches nor less than 30 inches from the upper surface of the top rail to the surface of the tread in line with the face of the riser at the forward edge of the tread.
A "standard handrail" consists of a lengthwise member mounted directly on a wall or partition by means of brackets attached to the lower side of the handrail in order to keep a smooth, unobstructed surface along the top and both sides of the handrail. They shall hold the rail 3 inches from the wall and be no more than 8 feet apart.
The height of handrails shall be no more than 34 inches nor less than 30 inches from the upper surface of the handrail to the surface of the tread in line with the face of the riser or to the surface of the ramp.
Winding stairs shall have a handrail that is offset to prevent people from walking on any portion of the treads where the width is less than 6 inches.
FIXED INDUSTRIAL STAIRS
This section contains specifications for the safe design and construction of fixed general industrial stairs. This includes interior and exterior stairs around machinery, tanks, and other equipment, and stairs leading to or from floors, platforms or pits. This section does not apply to stairs used for fire exit purposes, to construction operations, to private residences, or to articulated stairs, such as may be installed on floating roof tanks, the angle of which changes with the rise and fall of the base support.
Where are fixed stairs required?
Fixed Industrial Stairs shall be provided for access to and from places of work where
operations necessitate regular travel between levels. OSHA requirements include:
Fixed industrial stairs shall be strong enough to carry five times the normal
anticipated live load.
At the very minimum, any fixed stairway shall be able to carry safely a moving concentrated load of 1000 pounds.
All fixed stairways shall have a minimum width of 22 inches.
Fixed stairs shall be installed at angles to the horizontal of between 30o and 50o.
Vertical clearance above any stair tread to an overhead obstruction shall be at least 7 feet measured from the leading edge of the tread.
When inspecting the condition of stairways in your place of work, here are some items to watch out for.
Handrails and Stair rails:
A. Lack of
B. Placement
C. Smoothness of surface
D. Strength
E. Clearance between rail and wall or other object
Treads:
A. Strength
B. Slip resistance
C. Dimensions
D. Evenness of surface
E. Visibility of leading edge
Improper/inadequate design, construction or location of staircases.
Wet, slippery, or damaged walking or grasping surfaces.
Improper illumination...there is no general OSHA standard for illumination levels. The Illuminating Engineering Society publications should be consulted for recommendations.
Poor housekeeping
The length of a staircase is important. Long flights of steps without landings should be avoided whenever possible.
The OSHA standards do not specify any exact number or placement of landings. The National Safety Council recommends landings at every tenth or twelfth tread.
Intermediate landings and platforms on stairways shall be no less than the stair width and a minimum of 30 inches in length measured in the direction of travel.
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