Good Afternoon,

Could anyone please offer me guidance on finding material that would support why a staircase within the Gymnasium at my workplace (HMP Elmley) cannot be used as a training device for staff to run up and down.

I have found a Report on the HSE website (HSL/2005/10) which states you can add counter measures to the use of stairwells including no running or skipping steps, as safe practice reinforcement.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

From article: "estimated that there are more than 100,000 accidents every year on stairs in the workplace".

Point 1 - 'estimated'. Also the article was about workplaces, the radio programme included (terrible) accidents anywhere, out and about, at home, visiting . . .

Point 2 - out of how many successful stair traverses, by all the people in all the workplaces? We have no idea, but our own experience tells us its going to be many, many, multiples of the unsuccessful (ie accident number above).

There will also have been a significant contributing factor in many - lighting, condition, footwear, other people, etc etc. All unknown quantities.

So. Are stairs so dangerous one must 'forbid' people using them for exercise 'just in case'? I think not. Although the down traverse is by far the more risky - maybe suggest technique management such as handrail-holding for this component. The health benefits must far outweight the risk. On a par with the perennial 'is cycling good or bad?'conundrum. Personally I wouldn't get too excited about it.

aud - I take your point, and don't necessarily disagree with your sentiments.  Yes, many more people will of course safely get up and down stairs on a daily basis than those who unfortunately don't, but if we apply the same logic in the workplace, why do we need to guard machines ?  I'm sure that if they were left unguarded, the majority of people wouldn't put their hands where they shouldn't, but the odd person would undoubtedly do themselves some damage.  That's why we are expected to consider the risk of the potential "worst case" outcome, and then manage what we can to restore some balance.  Whilst I tend to agree that using the stairs for exercise purposes should be a good thing, there is always the litigation angle to consider these days, so is it worth the hassle of going against advice provided by the HSE ?  I can imagine a Claims Solicitor having a field day when presented with evidence that a company actually endorsed the use of workplace stairs for exercise purposes (especially if it means that off duty gym bunnies are using them to run up and down at the same time as those staff who are still on duty are trying to use them simply to get from A to B).  I think it's fair to say that we're on the same side, just looking at it from different angles ....glass half full and all that :-)

Anyone heard of 'volenti non fit injuria'?

Elfin

Perphaps I was being a tad flippant, but according to the OP this is a staircase in a gym (where lots of exercise takes place and presumably with equipment) and also presumably the persons using the staircase being inmates are not employees. Hence volenti is relevant in this context I believe.  

To my mind stairways are a means of getting from one level to another, not an exercise device per se.

If that type of exercise is neede there are plenty of machines that will perform the function - step machine anyone?