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Emerging Issues in Stairway Usability and Safety: Expert perspectives from Canada and the United States
Methods. In addition to pre-meeting study of videos from prior Canadian meetings, in 2012 and 2013, focused on stairways, as well as review of videos spanning 30 years of prime-time TV programs on stairway safety, meeting participants suggested some additional emerging issues beyond eight pre-identified ones. After considering three issues—points of control, recently identified handrail use at inter-flight transitions, and use of smart devices while using stairs—the group participated in several video recorded tests of ascent and descent uses, each with four to six flights of stair use. Group discussion resumed with more-abstract issues focused on etiology and epidemiology of stair-related injuries, with a focus on recent analysis of US data estimating injury cost associated with a range of products.
Outcomes. Combined with stair-related papers presented and published in connection with the international conference on fall prevention and protection, in October 2013, intensive discussions among this group of experts laid important foundations for a major, advocacy-oriented webinar to follow in September 2014.
Conclusions. Predictable and preventable, home stair-related injuries are a major, growing concern and, now, there are additional troubling developments linked to widespread, distracting use of smart phone technology, especially among younger stair users.
Learning Areas:
Biostatistics, economicsEpidemiology
Implementation of health education strategies, interventions and programs
Other professions or practice related to public health
Public health or related laws, regulations, standards, or guidelines
Public health or related organizational policy, standards, or other guidelines
Learning Objectives:
Differentiate among several stair design features affecting stair usability and safety.
Identify several factors that contribute to, and can mitigate, the dangers of stairs in public and home settings.
Design interventions based on heretofore little used epidemiological, etiological and policy insights.
Keyword(s): Public Health Policy, Evidence-Based Practice
Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: A Certified Professional Ergonomist, Jake Pauls has 47 years of international experience in research, codes and standards development, plus consulting, focused on people’s movement, individually and in crowds, especially on stairways. He excels at bridging among ergonomics, public health and development of codes and standards for built environment usability and safety. He serves on 15 committees in the US and Canada, developing safety standards and model building codes, representing APHA on half of these.
Any relevant financial relationships? No
I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.