There are too many accidents and fatalities on construction sites related to stairways and ladders. Bring your workplace into compliance and provide safe walking/working surfaces for your workers by adhering to the OSHA standards for stairs.
REDD Team is a leading national manufacturer of high quality OSHA-compliant aluminum access products, such as the Dura-Grip OSHA Stair, the Flex-Step OSHA Stair, and other premium-quality solutions that are designed to meet your architectural needs.
According to U.S. Department of Labor statistics, slips, trips and falls from floors, platforms, portable and fixed ladders, stairs, and ramps are responsible for the majority of jobsite accidents. They also cause 15% of all accidental deaths (second only to motor vehicle accidents).
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) sets general standards and safety regulations for workplace stairs, as well as special standards for industrial, marine and other specialty stairs. Following is a summary of the OSHA stairway guidelines for industrial settings. (Refer to the complete OSHA standards for important details.)
OSHA Guidelines for Fixed Stairways in Industrial Settings
- Rise must be a minimum of 6 ½ inches and a maximum of 9 ½ inches, but is tied to the angle of the stairs. For example, the standards set the rise for stairs on a 33-degree angle at 7 inches. For stairs on a 40-degree angle, the rise must be 8 inches.
- Fixed stairways must be no less than 22 inches wide.
- Fixed stairways must be built to carry a load of five times the normal anticipated load but no less than the strength required to carry a concentrated load of 1,000 pounds.
- Treads must be slip-resistant, and nosings must have a nonslip finish.
- Tread width and rise height must be uniform throughout.
- Vertical clearance to an overhead obstruction must be at least 7 feet from the leading edge of the tread.
- Standard railings must be present on the open sides of all exposed stairways and stair platforms.
- Stairway platforms must be at least as wide as the stairway and no less than 30-inches long in the direction of travel.
- Fixed stairs with four or more risers must have railings or handrails that are capable of withstanding a load of at least 200 pounds applied in any direction at any point on the rail.
- Spiral stairways are not permitted except in limited situations where a conventional stairway is not practical.
REDD Team proudly manufactures OSHA-compliant stairs, IBC- and ADA-compliant stairs, and stairs that comply with a wide variety of other codes. Other products include aluminum pedestrian bridges, aluminum stair towers, aluminum wheelchair ramps and more.
Aluminum is ideal for stairways and other access products. Compared to wood, steel and masonry, aluminum is more versatile, durable, and easier to install. Aluminum products are virtually maintenance-free and can easily be dismantled and relocated to other worksites when no longer needed.
We manufacture our products from raw material that contains approximately 25% post-consumer recycled aluminum. We recycle 100% of all of the aluminum scrap we generate onsite, and the products themselves can be completely recycled into new raw material. Our facilities also meet the guidelines of the U.S. Green Building Council and qualify for LEED credits.
REDD Team will help you meet the OSHA standards for stairs and put fall-protection safeguards in place at your jobsite. Contact us toll-free at (800) 648-3696 to find out more about our extensive line of aluminum access solutions.
