# Stairways on the job

URL: https://hardhatbinder.com/en/toolbox-talks/stairways
Last updated: 2026-10-23

Stairs on our jobs get used all day, often before they are finished and while we carry materials. A slip on a stairway can mean a long fall onto hard edges. This week, let's make sure every stairway we use is safe to climb.

## Key points

1. Use a stairway or ladder any time you change levels by 19 inches or more and there is no ramp or hoist. Do not climb on buckets, block, or framing.
2. Install handrails and stair rails before stairs get regular use. Four or more risers, or more than 30 inches of rise, means you need rails, and any open side needs a stair rail.
3. Do not walk on bare metal pan stairs. Fill the pans with concrete, wood, or other solid material first.
4. Keep treads and landings clear of tools, cords, scrap, mud, and ice. Clean up spills right away.
5. Keep one hand free for the rail. If a load blocks your view of the steps or needs both hands, get help or use a hoist.
6. Check for loose treads, uneven steps, protruding nails, and splinters. Report damage and flag the stairway until it is fixed.
7. Where a door opens onto a stairway, there must be a landing so the door does not swing over the steps.

## Talk it over

- Which stairway on our site is missing rails or has open sides right now?
- What do we usually carry up the stairs that blocks our view or takes both hands, and how can we move it better?
- Where do debris, cords, or water collect on our stairs, and who will keep them clear?

> **Remember:** Clear steps, solid treads, a hand on the rail, every trip.

## Official sources

- [29 CFR 1926.1052](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-29/section-1926.1052) — Stairways

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Source: HardHat Binder, operated by Leadspire LLC. Templates to be reviewed by a competent person before use; not legal advice; not affiliated with OSHA.