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Litigating and handling the stairway fall case
The document provides guidelines for litigating stairway fall or trip cases, focusing on the biomechanics of walking and key safety components like treads, handrails, and the importance of risk assessment in stairway design. It outlines uniform building code requirements for riser and tread safety, emphasizing the need for inspections and proper proportions to avoid hazards. Additionally, it discusses the necessity of graspable handrails and adequate landings to enhance stair safety.
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Litigating and handling the stairway fall case
- 1. LITIGATING AND HANDLINGTHE STAIRWAY FALL OR STAIRWAY TRIP CASE Edward K. Le Edward K. Le, PLLC 135 Park Ave N. Renton, Wa 98057 425-336-2255 Fax 425 902-0180 www.edwardkle.com Email: edwardkle@gmail.com
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- 5. WALKING BIOMECHANICS INVOLVE HEELTO TOE STRIKE
- 6. Causes of Trips •Damaged steps • Non-uniform, improper or irregular steps • Taller of shorter • Shallower tread depth • Otherwise irregular Tread Riser
- 7. PURPOSE OF NORMAL TREADSand RISES ARE TO SUPPORT TO FOOT WHEN BODY WEIGHT IS CENTERED OVER BALL OF FOOT DURING DESCENT
- 8. HORTER TREADS PROVIDES LESSSUPPORT O FOOT WHEN BODY WEIGHT IS CENTERED OVER BALL OF FOOT DURING DESCENT, CAUSING FOOT TO SLIP OVER NOSING OF STEP
- 9. Understand the KeyComponents for Stairway Safety Treads Rails Handrails Stair rails Guardrails Landings and Platforms
- 10. KNOW WHAT THERISER AND TREAD SAFETY REQUIREMENTS ARE UNDER UNIFORM BUILDING CODE
- 11. Stairway Construction RISER-The partof the stairs that will help you accomplish the height THREADS-The length of plate STRINGER-The part of the stairs that will hold all the weight
- 13. HAVE YOUR EXPERTTHOROUGHLY INSPECT FOR STAIRWAY VARIATIONS THAT EXCEED 3/8 OF AN INCH
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- 15. STAIRWAY VARIATIONS EXCEED3/8 OF AN INCH = GOOD LIABILITY
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- 17. LOOK FOR TRIPHAZARDS FROM UNEVEN NOSINGS
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- 20. Does It HaveTendency to “Catch” the Soles of a Shoe?
- 21. Are the NosingsUniform From One Stair to Another?
- 22. ANTI-SLIP EDGE AND NOSINGSOLUTIONS
- 23. ANTI-SLIP AND MARKINGOF EDGINGS
- 25. Most Variations OnStairways Occur On First Two Treads
- 26. IDENTIFY WHETHER THERE AREVISIBILITY AND CONTRAST ISSUES
- 27. IMPORTANCE OF CONTRAST= ASSIST IN DIFFERENTIATING STEPS DURING DESCENT
- 28. WAYS TO MEASURECONTRAST
- 29. LACK OF CONTRASTREDUCES HUMAN PERCEPTUAL CAPACITY
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- 31. EXAMPLE OF STAIRSWITH & WITHOUT CONTRAST
- 32. NOSING CONTRAST GREATLYDIMINISHES FALLS
- 33. EXPLAIN THE LIMITED CONEOF VISION AND REACTION TIME THROUGH A HUMAN FACTORS EXPERT
- 34. STAIRS OF NEARBYAPARTMENTSTAIRS OF DEFENDANT’S APARTMENT COMPARE THE DEFENDANT’S CONDUCT WITH THAT OF OTHER BUSINESSES NEARBY IN THE LOCAL COMMUNITY
- 35. EMPHASIZE THE MINIMAL COSTTO PREVENT THESE HAZARDS TO THE JURY
- 36. KNOW THE APPLICABLE HANDRAILSREQUIREMENTS
- 37. Stairways with fouror more risers, or higher than 30 inches, must be equipped with at least one handrail.
- 38. PURPOSE OF HANDRAILS 1.Providea surface to slide hand, allowing person to monitor progress and stability 2.Provide grab necessary for support in event of misstep
- 39. The IRC andresidential portion of the 2009 IBC define Type II handrail as follows: • Handrails with a perimeter greater than 6¼ inches (160 mm) shall provide a graspable finger recess area on both sides of the profile. • The minimum width of the handrail above the recess shall be 1¼ inches (32 mm) to a maximum of 2¾ inches (70 mm). Edges shall have a minimum radius of 0.01 inch (0.25 mm).
- 40. MINIMUM DESIGN ANDINSTALLATION REQUIREMENT
- 41. IF IT’S TOOSHORT, THEN THE RAILS ARE NOT REACHABLE
- 42. HANDRAILS SHOULD BEGRASPABLE
- 45. GRASPABILITY REQUIREMENT OFHANDRAILS
- 46. EXAMPLE OF BADHANDRAIL
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- 48. Where doors orgates open directly on a stairway, a platform that extends 20 inches beyond the swing of the door must be provided. Platforms and Swing Doors
- 49. Stairways landings mustbe at least 30 inches deep and 22 inches wide at every 12 feet or less of vertical rise Unprotected sides of landings must have standard 42 inch guardrail systems Stairway Landings Landing
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