Technical safety measures when performing works at heights on the stairs

• Published in: IOP conference series. Materials Science and Engineering 2020-08, Vol.913 (5), p.52042
• Main Authors: Senchenko, V A, Pushenko, S L, Staseva, E V, Kvitkina, M V
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Construction industry; Construction site accidents; Falling; Injuries; Ladders; Safety measures; Sliding
• ISSN: 1757-8981; 1757-899X
• DOI: 10.1088/1757-899X/913/5/052042

Works at heights are a hazardous activity. The most common in industrial and economic activities works at heights are carried out on the stairs. Injury statistics in the Russian Federation indicate that when performing work at heights, the proportion of injuries is about 25 percent of their total number. A large number of injuries are recorded in everyday life from falling when performing work at heights from the stairs. Falling down the stairs is the second leading cause of industrial accidents in the US construction industry. A significant part of these incidents occurs at the construction sites and during operation when using extension ladders. Injuries from falling down the height, including down a ladder, are usually severe. About 70% of injuries are with serious consequences. When working with portable ladders, the most common cause of falls and injuries is the stairs' sliding. The article presents the engineering solutions aimed at eliminating the sliding of the upper part of the stairs during works on the support. An assessment of these engineering solutions for various options for their application volumes has been performed.