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Stairways & Ramps – The Forgotten Fall Zones in Facilities Stats and Facts

FACTS

  1. Wet or Polished Treads: Cleaning residue, rainwater, or smooth finishes reduce traction on steps and ramps, causing sudden slips during ascent or descent
  2. Inconsistent Step Geometry: Uneven riser heights or tread depths disrupt gait rhythm, increasing missteps and forward falls.
  3. Missing or Improper Handrails: Absent, loose, or poorly placed handrails remove a critical balance aid when workers stumble or carry loads.
  4. Ramp Grade Stress: Slopes that are too steep increase braking forces on descent and push forces on ascent, elevating fall and overexertion risk.
  5. Transition Hazards: Door thresholds and floor material changes at stair or ramp landings create unexpected edges that trigger trips.
  6. Lighting & Glare Issues: Shadows, glare, or insufficient illumination hide step edges and slope changes, delaying hazard recognition.
  7. Load Carrying: Boxes, tools, or carts block sightlines and tie up hands, reducing balance and increasing fall severity on stairs and ramps.

STATS

  • In Canada, slips and falls—including those on stairs and ramps—represent roughly 20% of lost-time injury claims across multiple provinces (provincial WCBs summarized by CCOHS).
  • In the US, falls on stairs and ramps caused 69,050 days-away-from-work injuries in private industry in 2022, representing 26% of all fall-to-lower-level cases.
  • Stairway falls have the highest median days away from work among fall types — 20 days per case in US private industry (2022-2024), far exceeding same-level falls.
  • Falls on stairs account for nearly 1 million emergency room visits annually in the US, with workplaces contributing a significant portion through poorly maintained or unmarked stairways (2020-2024 average).
  • In Ontario alone, stairway and ramp falls caused over 3,800 lost-time injuries annually (2020-2023), costing employers hundreds of millions in direct and indirect costs.
  • Workers aged 55+ suffer stairway falls at twice the rate of younger workers and take 50% longer to recover (median 28 days away vs. 14 days).