The
first known use of stairs was in ancient Egypt during the building of the
pyramids. Chances are, some workers back then tripped and fell on them. Some
3,000 years later, injuries on stairs are still a big problem.
According
to the Centre for Occupational Health & Safety, the insurance cost of
injuries from falls on stairs is second only to automobile accidents! Clearly,
it's a bigger problem than most people imagine.
So
how do you prevent trips, falls and other mishaps on stairs?
The
most common way is to use handrails. In fact, most trips and falls occur when
people aren't able to regain their balance because they are not holding a
handrail.
Another
source of accidents are items, such as toys, left on stairs. Some people have
the bad habit of using stairs as a temporary shelf for books, magazines, mail
and other items. That’s not a good idea!
Always
be careful when carrying heavy items on stairs. Even an overloaded laundry
basket can be a hazard. If it's too heavy or you can’t see over the top, it’s
too full.
A
lot of this is common sense. However, because injuries on stairs are so
prevalent, we need to use our common sense more often.
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