5 Handrails For Safe Access On Dangerous Steps
Installing a handrail on an outdoor steps is an important part of providing safe access around your home. But it can be even more vital to install a rail to a business premises, or a place which requires regular public access.
There are a few reasons why, but mainly because there are greater numbers of people using the steps, while many are not familiar with the premises and the nature of the steps.
Tripping And Hazards
I once heard from a previous lecturer that we are so finely tuned when we walk, that we could trip on a piece of paper. Our mechanics mean that we move our feet the absolute mimimal distance possible from the ground as we walk. How many times have you ben walking down a paved footpath, tripped and done a big jump as you walk, then looked around subsequently to see if anyone has noticed? This is often caused by a very slight height difference in the slabs, either from when they were originally laid or because they have shifted slightly over time.
Slippy And Uneven Steps
Obviously, a trip like this on a steps can have very serious consequences and involve serious injury. Having a solid handrail in place is a must and can prevent someone from getting hurt, along with protecting the business from injury claims. Considering how easy a Kee Klamp handrail is to install, there is definitely no excuse for not protecting yourself and others.
The handrail systems below represent good examples of how to install simple handrails which wil protect the premises involved for years to come.
1. Elora, The Haven Centre
The steps at the Haven Mindfulness and Events Centre in Kilkenny are a good example of uneven surfaces, due to the nature of the stonework which the steps were constructed from.
Obviously due to the exposed edge of the steps, a handrail was a necessity here regardless it would prevent someone from having a bad fall. The real bonus here was that the industrial look of the handrail complimented the stonework perfectly and ensured a beautiful entrance to the centre.
2. Presentation Convent, Dublin
Unfortunately, it sometimes takes a fall to point out the danger and a handrail isn’t put in place until AFTER an accident has occurred. Presentation Convent actually had what appeared to be sufficient handrails in place to help people up and down 3 steps in one of their corridors.
After one of the nuns had a fall and hurt her hip, the convents caretaker rang us looking to add an extra rail down the middle of the corridor. With it being quite wide, an extra rail would ensure that the nuns could now have a rail close by on either side of them and be able to use both hands as they walked up and down the steps.
Simple Handrail Kits
- Available up to 3m in length
- Easy installation
- Strong and durable
- Ground fixed and wall mounted options
- Ask us for design help
3. Eurolink Maintenance Depot
The steps at Eurolink were being used regularly for access and urgently required a handrail on either side to give people a secure grip as they navigated the steps. The steps could be particularly dangerous when it rained as they were very smooth in nature and could get quite slippery.
One of our pre-designed handrail kits worked perfectly for the project. The SR-C50 handrail kit contains swivel fittings to suit any pitch and could be easily installed by just about anyone.
No hassle installing them. We left 2 lads at it and they had it done in an hour I’m told...
Elaine-Eurolink
4. Costa Coffee, Dunshaughlin
The steps at Costa Coffee in Dunshaughlin provided an access point to a raised walkway alongside the entrances to Costa and other shops. The tube clamp handrail travelled up both sides of the steps and continued along the parapet wall at the perimeter.
This provided edge protection in the form of a safety barrier, along with giving people reassurance in the form of a handrail as they navigated the steps. Here, the tube rail was bent to suit the slope of the parapet. This isn’t always a possibility however, so we can provide a fitting which changes the direction of a rail when a slope meets a flat surface.
5. Raharney GAA, Westmeath
I spotted this handrail project while attending my daughters camogie match at Raharney GAA club. It provided a safe entrance point to the pitch for the players and any spectators who were there to watch. The rails were held by a number of angled fittings to give the required angle.
Having two rails within the system would be safer for kids, as it would prevent them from swinging freely from the top rail. Doing so could prevent a fall and them hurting this backs on the jagged edge of the steps. The rail was vital as steps can be dangerous at the best of times, but trying to walk up them with studded boots on can make them lethal, especially when wet.
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