Guide · Safety and emergencies
Stairs, Railings and Trip Safety
A friendly, practical guide to preventing falls at home, from sturdy handrails and good lighting to loose rugs, clutter, outdoor steps and icy walkways.
Where to start
- Someone just fell?
Stay calm. If they are badly hurt, cannot get up or hit their head, call 911. See if someone falls.
- Loose handrail or broken step?
Share it in writing right away, with photos. Loose railings and broken steps are urgent.
- Just moved in?
Shake every handrail, test the stair lights, and tick through the stair and path checklist.
The short version
Falls are one of the most common ways people get hurt at home, and most are preventable.
Hold the handrail, light the way and keep stairs, hallways and walkways clear.
Secure rugs, wipe up spills and wear shoes with good grip on stairs and outdoor steps.
Report loose rails, broken steps and uneven walkways in writing right away.
Safety rules differ from place to place, so we’d gently encourage a quick look at the rules where your home is. If you ever have questions, we would love to help.
Four simple rules
- 1Hold the handrail
Sturdy handrails on stairs, used every time, prevent many falls.
- 2Light the way
Bright lights at the top and bottom of stairs, and night lights in hallways, help everyone see.
- 3Keep paths clear
Shoes, bags, cords and clutter on stairs and walkways are trip hazards.
- 4Fix problems fast
Report loose rails, broken steps, torn carpet and uneven walkways right away.
Stair and path checklist
From the guide’s own checklist. Tick each one as you go. Your ticks stay on this device. These are examples; your home may need others.
All done. Thanks so much for helping everyone stay safe and steady.
If someone falls
- Stay calm. If someone is badly hurt, can’t get up or hit their head, call 911.
- Don’t rush to lift someone who may be injured. Make them comfortable and wait for help.
- If they are not hurt, help them get up slowly, resting first.
- Once everyone is safe, take photos of what caused the fall.
- Share it with the owner or manager in writing.
- Encourage the person to see a doctor, even if they feel fine.
You did exactly the right thing.
Please be careful with these
- Please don’t leave anything on the stairs, even for a minute.
- Please don’t run cords across walkways or under rugs.
- Please don’t stand on chairs or boxes to reach high places. Use a sturdy step stool.
- Please don’t remove or loosen handrails or railings.
For owners: before the resident moves in
- Check that every staircase has sturdy handrails, and that railings on decks and balconies are secure.
- Make sure stair lights work and switches are at both the top and bottom where possible.
- Repair loose treads, worn carpet, cracked steps and uneven walkways.
- Add non slip strips to outdoor steps where needed.
- Plan snow and ice care for outdoor steps and walkways.
Give every handrail a firm shake at turnover. If it moves at all, tighten or replace it before the next resident moves in.
Guides that go well with this one
How much do you remember?
4 quick questions from this guide, with a one line why for each. Totally optional, no sign in, and your answers are never saved.
Go deeper with The Perfect Move-In Checklist Workbook
Your move in walk is the perfect time to shake every handrail and test the stair lights. This workbook has simple, step by step checklists you can write in for moving in: the move in walk, moving day, your first week, utilities, keys and more.
Keep the full guide handy
The PDF has everything: everyday habits, what to do when something goes wrong, common myths, helpful resources and plenty of real-world tips. Print it, save it or share it with anyone who could use it.
Download the PDFMore guides
This guide shares general information to help you, and is not legal, medical or building-code advice. Please use qualified professionals for repairs. Bunklow does not inspect or repair homes.