Reducing stair accidents: Evidence for behaviour change & safer design

BWF Technical Director Kevin Underwood reveals why urgent action on stair design and safety could prevent hundreds of serious injuries each year

BWF Technical Director, Kevin Underwood

New research conducted by the BWF shows that stair accidents are common, with many people slipping or falling at home. While younger adults recorded the highest number of accidents, older people experienced the most serious – and sometimes fatal – injuries.

In this article, I’ll highlight evidence that demonstrates why behaviour change and safer stair design are essential as well as reflecting on research commissioned by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) to inform updates to Approved Document K. This research supports enhanced stair design standards, improved handrail provision and better step dimensions, helping to drive regulatory change that could reduce accidents as well as saving lives.

In September, the British Woodworking Federation launched its Speak Up for Stair Safety campaign in response to research showing that 43% of UK adults had experienced a slip, trip or fall on stairs in the previous 12 months, with 60% of those incidents occurring in their own homes.   

Younger adults displayed a higher risk, with more than 60% of those aged 18-34 reporting accidents, compared with just 33% of over-65s. However, while younger people experience accidents more frequently, older people face a greater risk of fatal injury. Data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) shows that in 2023, more than 850 people aged over 65 died from a “fall on or from stairs and steps.”

Despite 84% of people acknowledging that device use increases the risk of falling, nearly a third admit to scrolling social media or using messaging apps while on the stairs. A similar proportion admit to leaving items such as laundry or parcels on the stairs, even though 40% recognise this as a hazard and 6% say it’s caused them to fall.

The BWF’s research shows that awareness of risks isn’t translating into behaviour change, highlighting the need for broader awareness-raising and better education about the real dangers presented by slips, trips and falls on stairs.

A 2024 report from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) also found that accidents are becoming the leading cause of preventable death for people under 40, and that almost half of accidental deaths in 2022 resulted from falls. Regular stair maintenance is also essential: almost a third of accidents were linked to broken safety features or poor upkeep. 

The top five hazards reported were as follows:

• Slippery surfaces (40%)

• Poor lighting (32%)

• Items left on the stairs (29%)

• Uneven steps (26%)

• Lack of handrails (23%)

While the BWF data indicates that individuals must take greater responsibility for their own stair safety, many incidents could be prevented by safer stair design. RoSPA has stated that adopting the recommendations of British Standard BS 5395-1:2010 – currently voluntary – could reduce the risk of stair falls by up to 60%.

To support proposals to update Approved Document K to align with BS 5395-1:2010, MHCLG has published the final report from the Rise and Going Consultancy, titled ‘Evidence to Support Potential Changes to Approved Document K Guidance on Domestic Stairs’. The research was commissioned to provide objective, evidence-based information on step dimensions, consistency and handrail provision, in support of the Building Safety Regulator’s duty under the Building Safety Act 2022 to ensure Approved Documents reflect current knowledge of safety risks in the built environment.

The research explored:

• The optimal rise and going dimensions for steps

• Whether tolerances should be allowed, and to what extent

• Whether adding a second handrail to stairs under 1,000mm wide could support usability and reduce risk.

The findings showed that increasing the minimum going from 220mm to 275mm significantly improves safety, even allowing slight variations between steps without increasing risk due to better foot placement. 

The provision of a handrail on each side of the stair was shown to help users who rely on support and to prevent falls among those who typically don’t use handrails but would instinctively reach for one if they slipped. The research also found that the current 900mm height requirement for private stair guarding is too low to protect most adults, especially when descending and is insufficient to deter children from attempting to climb it.

Combined, the BWF and MHCLG research demonstrates that both safer stair design and changes in user behaviour could substantially reduce accidents, hospital admissions and deaths.

For more information on the BWF and its Speak Up for Stair Safety campaign, see www.bwf.org.uk.