Falls

Falls between Levels

Impact on health

Causes

• The ease of opening windows, the distance they open, the height of the sill and the design of the opening light.
• For windows above ground floor level, the ease of cleaning from inside.
• Windows requiring extra strength to open.
• Difficult to reach catches.
• The distance of a window opening or balcony above ground level.
• Features beneath the window. For example, railings and fences.
• Of the fatal falls from windows, 50% are from bedrooms, and 50% are from other first floor windows.

Prevention

• Safety catches will reduce the ease a child can open a window unsupervised.
• Catches restricting the distance a window can open (up to 100mm) fitted above ground floor level.
• Any opening limiter should be easy to over-ride by an adult in the event of an emergency.
• A catch to at least one window in a room accessible to wheelchair users. The window should still have a restrictor.
• Internal sills are at least 1,100mm from the finished floor level.
• The height of glazing above floor level should be more than 800mm. Where there is any glazing less than 800mm from the floor level, it requires guarding or be safety glass. 
• Increased safety precautions to upper storey windows. From the second floor upwards, glazing below 1,100mm from floor level needs guarding with a safety rail.
• The design of the windows should allow safe cleaning of the outer surface. It should be such that there is no reason to climb on a chair or stepladder to clean it. A high level opening light should be cleanable on both sides without opening the main light.
• Guarding provided to balconies and landings to prevent falls. It should be at least 1,100mm high and designed and constructed to discourage children climbing. It must be strong enough to support the weight of people leaning against it. There should be no openings to the guarding which would allow a 100mm sphere to pass through.

Impact on health

• Physical injury such as bruising, fractures, head, brain or spinal injuries.
• Extent of the injury depends on distance of the fall and the kind of surface fallen on.
• The health of an elderly person may deteriorate. Death after an initial fall injury can be cardio-respiratory.

Causes

• How level is the floor, path or yard, its evenness and the state of maintenance.
• Surface variations of 5mm to floors and of 20mm to paths increase the risk of a trip.
• A lack of sufficient space to carry out tasks or manoeuvres.
• Hard surfaces are more unforgiving than carpeted floors.

Prevention

• Effective drainage of surface water to reduce ponding and in adverse weather, patches of ice.
• Each room and part of a dwelling should have a layout which allows for the carrying out of tasks and manoeuvres.
• Adequate lighting to identify any obstructions and any trip steps or projecting thresholds.
• Artificial lights sited to avoid shadows and dark corners where users cannot see where they are going.
• Switches or controls for lighting sited for ease of use.
• In the common parts of multi-occupied buildings, floor coverings kept in good repair.

Impact on health

Causes

• Variations in the rise and going of a flight are likely to increase the possibility of missteps.
• Stairs consisting of straight steps with no winders or intermediate landings.
• Length of the flight of stairs or ramp/slope may increase the seriousness of an injury and increase the distance fallen.
• Small spiral stairs increase the likelihood of a fall if there is no inner handrail and where the stairs are less than 800mm wide.
• Alternating tread stairs may also be hazardous, particularly in emergencies.
• Accidents are more likely where the pitch of stairs is steeper. The steep pitch to stairs can result in a worse the impact from the fall.
• The shape and dimension of nosings affect the likelihood of an accident.
• Poor frictional quality of the tread surface can increase slips and missteps.
• Stairs without carpet covering, including those intended to be uncovered.
• No wall or guarding to one side of the stair.
• Lack of any handrail, even if there is a wall to both sides of the stairs.

Prevention

• Tread dimensions between 280mm and 360mm
• Rise dimensions between 100mm – 180mm
• Stair width between 900mm-1000mm
• Pitch (angle) of stairs less than 42°
• Consistency and uniformity in the rise and going of a flight. Except where there is an obvious change in direction e.g. use of winders
• Nosing should not project more than 18mm beyond the riser
• Treads and nosings should provide appropriate friction (carpet etc, if possible)
• Provision of fitted carpet, rug, etc at foot of stairs to help cushion any possible impact
• Openings in stairs or banisters should be less than 100mm
• Avoidance of alternating treads, particularly those not conforming to current Building Regulations
• Handrails or banisters provided to at least one side of the staircase
• Handrails to be between 900mm and 1000mm measured from the top of the handrail to the pitch line or floor. They must be easy to grasp and extend the full length of the flight
• Balustrading designed to prevent climbing
• Provision landing and hallway space leading to the stairs (top and bottom) so user can check start/dimensions of stairs and steps
• Adequate natural lighting to the top and foot of the flight
• Adequate artificial light to the top and foot of the flight
• Adequate and convenient means of controlling the artificial lighting
• No glare from natural or artificial lighting
• Avoid doors opening onto stairs or the head of the stairs. Obstructions and projections increase the likelihood of a fall
• Avoidance of projections and sharp edges on stairs and glass or radiators at the foot of the stairs
• All elements of stairs should be in good repair
• Dwelling should be adequately heated and insulated to avoid impairment of movement and sensation