The next step

To the Workplace Regulations ACoP

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Are your stair barriers safe?

Protected

If you were constructing or altering a building today it would need to comply with the Building Regulations 2010 (BR). The BR are supported by documents which explain the expected standards in more detail, e.g. Approved Document K , which describes the features required to prevent falls. Older buildings are unlikely to meet current standards because the approved documents change periodically.

Tip. There can be a valid explanation for your building differing from the current approved documents and there’s no requirement to update every existing structure. Whether you need to do so depends on the current use and the risks.

What’s the minimum?

The minimum required stairway protection is that described in the Approved Code of Practice (ACoP) to the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 (see The next step ).

Tip 1. Check that your staircase meets the minimum standard in the ACoP: the open side(s) must have a rail at 900mm or higher, plus a lower rail. You must also have one handrail, though in practice the upper rail of the barrier usually doubles as a handrail.

Tip 2. There should be handrails on both sides if there’s a particular risk of falling, e.g. narrow treads or heavy usage. You may need a handrail down the middle of a stairway if it’s especially wide.

Going further

In industrial buildings which are not accessed by the public, basic barriers as described in the ACoP are normally sufficient. However, if there are special risks such as from falling objects, or if children use the building, you will need to do more.

Tip. If there’s a significant risk of items being dropped on to the levels below, incorporate infill such as a mesh or panel.

Children

The use of a building by children is the main reason for upgrading the protection of stairs because: (1) they could fall between the railings; (2) they may climb over; and (3) a very young child may get their head trapped between railings.

Tip 1. Where a stairway is used by children, barriers should not be readily climbable. This tends to rule out horizontal barriers. Vertical rails or solid infill panels work well.

Tip 2. If children under five years old will use the building your guarding should prevent entrapment. The test is that a 100mm diameter sphere is unable to pass through gaps in the guarding.

Tip 3. Many business premises have stair barriers which aren’t designed to this standard. If you don’t want to make alterations, implement alternative measures which preclude children from using that part of the building. If you’re relying on such arrangements, make sure that the reasons for your decision are written in a risk assessment and monitor that your procedure works in practice.

For a link to the Workplace Regulations ACoP, visit http://tipsandadvice-healthandsafety.co.uk/download (HS 15.14.04).