It would be interesting to know how many under 11's have fallen to determine if there is a significant risk :) or not...

How was it assessed that an 11 year old would be "at risk" but it's presumably okay for an elderly person who may have reduced mobility, arthritis, etc to climb the tower?

It's almost Friday so here goes - can I get to the top on my mobility scooter?

Fair enough I think.....what's the difference betwen that and Ikea not letting childern under 3 go into the children's play area?

We have a simple rule in our 14th Century church tower (which is not open to the public). Young children must go down the tower steps immediately behind an adult (preferably a parent). The idea is that if the child falls, it only falls a short distance and against something which is less hard than the steps. If the steps in Windsor Castle are anything like the ones in our church tower, which are steep and very narrow (especially on the inside of the radius), then it makes absolute sense to take young children out of the equation especially when dealing with the public in larger numbers. At the weekend I also saw the Qutub Minar tower in Delhi which had been closed to visitors since the 1970 as a result of two incidents of fatalities on the steps, so IMHO the Windsor Castle story is not one of Health and Safety going mad.

Castle steps were designed to be defended from the top down hence why they are steep and wind up anti-clockwise. When these were built they were not built under the current building regulations and are completely different from flights of stairs (with landings) which we find in modern buildings. I have not seen the risk assessments or the steps concerned, however based upon my own construction design knowledge I fully support this trial H&S management arrangement. Surely it is better to have the tower open with some restrictions than completely closed!

Oh dear, Henry II and his builders showed a massive lack of foresight in the 1170s in not envisaging that centuries later hordes of tourists would be wanting to go up the tower!! On a more serious note, there's been some sensible comments already. The BBC Berkshire News report overplays the ban and is out of context with the fact that there are numerous other castles and other premises in the UK with steep, narrow, uneven staircases used by the public. From experience of some of these premises, it's often the case that signs are displayed regarding the nature of such stairways. e.g. not suitable for young children, so that visitors with children or health problems can make appropriate decisions. Also, it's not the ascending so much as the descending which is the hazardous aspect of using such stairways. Therefore, the advice about having younger children closely following their parents when descending is sensible. The potential hazard is likely to be increased when people have to pass each other on stairs, especially spiral ones, which have few or no suitable landings and recesses to allow easier/safer passing. As for handrails, it might be feasible and sensible to have two rails i.e. add a new one at a lower height for use by moderately agile children under 11 years of age and also adults of shorter than average height. In contrast to the reported blanket ban such a measure would be an enabling measure within the spirit of OS&H. Do forum users know of similar stairways elsewhere which have two rails? It's tempting to speculate how the Windsor Castle people enforce the alleged ban: They might possibly have a person on duty outside the entrance to the stairway involved to grill children aspiring to ascend. "What's your age?...Are you sure you've had your 11th birthday?....Now, without hesitation, what's your date of birth? etc, etc. If some sort of restriction is appropriate, a more sensible method would be to use a minimum height comparison board (as mentioned in earlier responses) like the ones with cartoon figures on them which are commonly used at certain types of rides at fairgrounds and amusement parks. This method is also likely to be more acceptable to most members of the public than specifying an age limit.

Graham I would argue that the medieval H&S stair poster should mention: > Care when carrying arrows or crossbows on stairs, > Slip hazards associated with boiling oil running down stairs > Safe systems to be adopted when pillaging > And the benefits of earthing of armour, especially in a storm I am sure there are more..............

Its friday so being very quick ..... Why not a height restrication rather that a 11 year old ? Have people not noticed that children are taller now ? You may get a small child but at the age of 14! But his he ok cause hes old enough ?

Here's another suggestion for the medieval H&S spiral staircase poster: If defending against attackers coming up the stairs, be vigilant for left-handed attackers, assuming the stairs are conventional ones which ascend clockwise. Also, on a more general note, beware of being distracted by seductive nubile maidens - or did that hazard only occur in "Monty Python and the Holy Grail"?!!