Non Slip Stairs

There are plenty of ways to help make your stairs non slip, to make it less likely that people will slip on them and fall. Some just seem like common sense, but we don’t follow them always, and others involve a little work but are effective.

First of all, when you’re on the stairs, be careful! You know people fall and get hurt. Don’t carry enormous loads of whatever up and down, whether laundry or anything else. Carry smaller loads and make more trips. Watch where you are walking, which is hard to do if carrying an enormous load of stuff. Don’t assume that the stairs are clear. In other words, as my favorite priest always chanted (in Greek), “Be Attentive.”

Make sure the stairs have good lighting. Replace burnt out bulbs promptly. Visibility is important to stair safety. Install new lighting if necessary. This is common sense of course.

Keep the stairs clear. Inside it primarily means do not use the stairs as a storage area. My family fails miserably in this area, but we are getting better. Outside that may also mean clear of dirt, leaves, snow, and ice among other things.

People slip or trip on unexpected objects on stairs all the time, even pieces of paper. I know I have. It may be impossible to keep them entirely clear, but try to limit objects on the stairs to those to go up or down very very soon.

One reasonable exception is if you have a “stair basket.” This is a basket designed to sit on the stairs, straddling two steps, and hold objects safely.

Also if you have kids or kids who visit, try to explain to them that the stairs are not a safe play place. They are not a spot for mock swordfights or wrestling or the like. Of course they’ll probably run up and down the stairs making lots of noise but that’s to be expected.

If the stairs are slippery, consider some type of non slip surfacing like stair tread carpet or non slip stair treads which are made in all types of material like rubber, vinyl, aluminum and more. There are versions for indoors and out and some outdoor models are even heated to melt ice and snow! There is plenty of information on this site about these.

Far too many people slip on stairs each year, whether they are relatively non slip stairs or not. Pay attention on stairs and consider these suggestions and hopefully you, loved ones, and visitors will avoid becoming a statistic.