Stairway safety: 9 cited limits before dispatch

• Apply landing size only to stairs that will not be a permanent part of the structure.
• Measure rail height from the upper surface to the tread, in line with the riser face at the forward edge of the tread.
• Skip foot traffic on unfinished pan stairs and skeleton metal stairs except during construction or with the temporary fittings.
• Confirm the platform and swing clearance where a door opens on a stairway.

According to Ohio Administrative Code, Rule 4123:1-3-04 covers floors, stairways, railing, overhead protection, and guarding of open-sided floors, platforms, and runways.

Verifying site stairway conditions is a core dispatch duty before sending technicians to commercial buildings. Dispatchers must confirm that open-sided floors, platforms, and runways are properly guarded before assigning a job.

The Ohio Administrative Code specifies that Rule 4123:1-3-04 addresses the guarding of open-sided floors, platforms, and runways.

Ensure the work order reflects the specific site conditions. See Set a job priority before dispatch: 3 fields, Dispatch board statuses: 3 platforms explained, and Portable ladder rails: 3 feet above the landing.

Confirm that safety checks are complete before moving the status.

The following table lists the nine cited limits, and each limit applies only in the jurisdiction and situation named in its row. Each row names the publisher that states the rule and the exact requirement from their source.

Use this table to cross-check your site notes against the specific jurisdictional rules cited.

Verify the vertical dimension of the top rail before dispatching your team. The Legal Information Institute states that when the top edge of a stairrail system also serves as a handrail, the height of the top edge shall be not more than 37 inches (94 cm) nor less than 36 inches (91.5 cm) from the upper surface of the stairrail system to the surface of the tread, in line with the face of the riser at the forward edge of the tread, according to Legal Information Institute. The Washington State Legislature specifies that when the top edge of a stair rail system also serves as a handrail, the height of the top edge must be not more than 37 inches (94 cm) nor less than 36 inches (91.5 cm) from the upper surface of the stair rail system to the surface of the tread, in line with the face of the riser at the forward edge of the tread, according to Washington State Legislature. For general handrails, the Legal Information Institute notes that the height of handrails shall be not more than 37 inches (94 cm) nor less than 30 inches (76 cm) from the upper surface of the handrail to the surface of the tread, in line with the face of the riser at the forward edge of the tread, according to Legal Information Institute. Measure from the upper surface to the tread surface, in line with the face of the riser at the forward edge of the tread: 36 to 37 inches only if the stairrail is also the handrail, and 30 to 37 inches only for a separate handrail.

Verify landing dimensions before dispatching a technician to a site with non-permanent stairways. According to Legal Information Institute, stairways that will not be a permanent part of the structure on which construction work is being performed shall have landings of not less than 30 inches (76 cm) in the direction of travel. The same source states these landings must extend at least 22 inches (56 cm) in width at every 12 feet (3.7 m) or less of vertical rise. The Washington State Legislature provides a parallel requirement in WAC 296-155-477. According to Washington State Legislature, stairways that will not be a permanent part of the structure on which construction work is being performed must have landings of not less than 30 inches (76 cm) in the direction of travel. This state rule also requires the landing to extend at least 22 inches (56 cm) in width at every 12 feet (3.7 m) or less of vertical rise.

Check tread uniformity to identify irregular steps that could cause trips. According to Washington State Legislature, variations in riser height or tread depth must not be over 1/4-inch (0.6 cm) in any stairway system. Measure the difference between adjacent risers and treads to verify compliance with this specific variance limit. If the variation exceeds 1/4-inch (0.6 cm), the stairway system does not meet this requirement.

Inspect door swing clearance where gates open directly onto the stair path. According to Legal Information Institute, where doors or gates open directly on a stairway, a platform shall be provided. The swing of the door shall not reduce the effective width of the platform to less than 20 inches (51 cm). Verify that a platform exists at the door location and measure the effective width during the door's full swing. If the effective width drops below 20 inches (51 cm), the configuration fails this specific clearance rule.

When dispatching to construction zones or sites with incomplete structures, you must verify if the stairs are fully finished. According to the Legal Information Institute, foot traffic is prohibited on stairways with pan stairs where treads or landings are to be filled in with concrete or other material at a later date, except during stairway construction. This prohibition applies unless the stairs are temporarily fitted with wood or other solid material at least to the top edge of each pan.

Similarly, skeleton metal stairs present a distinct traffic restriction. According to the Legal Information Institute, foot traffic is prohibited on skeleton metal stairs where permanent treads and/or landings are to be installed at a later date, except during stairway construction. The exception to this prohibition is if the stairs are fitted with secured temporary treads and landings long enough to cover the entire tread and/or landing area. Dispatchers should confirm with the site contact whether these secured temporary treads are in place before sending a team to a skeleton metal structure.

For winding and spiral stairways, the focus shifts to guard placement and tread width. According to the Legal Information Institute, winding and spiral stairways shall be equipped with a handrail offset sufficiently to prevent walking on those portions of the stairways where the tread width is less than 6 inches (15 cm). This requirement ensures that the handrail acts as a barrier against the narrowest parts of the spiral design. When inspecting a spiral stairway, measure the tread width at the innermost point to verify if the handrail offset is sufficient to prevent a technician from walking on the area where the tread is under 6 inches.

These figures are illustrative. Note a landing at 30 inches in the direction of travel, a door-swing platform width at 20 inches, a separate handrail at 30 inches, a rail opening at 19 inches, and a load comparison at 200 pounds.

The California Department of Industrial Relations states that intermediate vertical members (such as balusters), when used between posts, shall be installed such that there are no openings greater than 19 inches (48 cm) wide, according to California Department of Industrial Relations.

Today, walk the stair the technician will use and compare the landing and the rail with the matching row above.

What is the minimum width for a temporary stair landing?

The Washington State Legislature requires these landings to extend at least 22 inches (56 cm) in width. According to the Washington State Legislature, landings on stairways that are not a permanent part of the structure must be not less than 30 inches (76 cm) in the direction of travel. This width requirement applies at every 12 feet (3.7 m) or less of vertical rise.

How much force must a stair handrail withstand?

The Legal Information Institute states that handrails and top rails of stairrail systems must withstand a force of at least 200 pounds (890 n) without failure. This force must be applied within 2 inches (5 cm) of the top edge. The requirement covers any downward or outward direction at any point along the top edge.

What is the maximum allowed opening in a stair rail system?

According to the Washington State Legislature, you must install other structural members such that there are no openings in the stair rail system more than 19 inches (48 cm) wide. This rule applies when other structural members are used in the system.

Are foot traffic rules different for skeleton metal stairs?

Yes. The Legal Information Institute prohibits foot traffic on skeleton metal stairs where permanent treads and/or landings are to be installed at a later date. Foot traffic is allowed during stairway construction, or if the stairs are fitted with secured temporary treads and landings long enough to cover the entire tread and/or landing area.

What is the required height for a stair rail that also serves as a handrail?

The Washington State Legislature specifies that when the top edge of a stair rail system also serves as a handrail, the height must be not more than 37 inches (94 cm) nor less than 36 inches (91.5 cm). This measurement is taken from the upper surface of the stair rail system to the surface of the tread, in line with the face of the riser at the forward edge of the tread.