National Floor Safety Institute Issues Stairway Fall Warnings

Millions of people across the United States are hurt in stairway falls every year, and the problem has become so widespread that safety advocates are sounding the alarm to the public. Among the groups trying to raise awareness of this problem is the National Floor Safety Institute (NFSI).

In a recent news release, the NFSI highlighted some alarming statistics from the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), an independent agency of the U.S. government. Research from the CPSC shows millions of people across the country are treated for stairway falls and similar injuries yearly.

“Far too many people are hurt and lives lost due to stairway falls, and most troubling is that most falls can be prevented,” said Russell Kendzior, founder and president of the NFSI. The New York City slip and fall attorneys at David Resnick & Associates, P.C. want you to be aware of these dangers and know what to do in case of a stairway fall.

What Is the NFSI?

The NFSI is a nonprofit organization with a mission to “aid in the prevention of slips, trips, and falls through education, research, and standards development.” The group works to minimize slip-and-fall accidents nationwide by testing floor products, providing educational training to businesses and other groups, and developing floor safety standards for others to follow.

One of the NFSI’s main tools to promote floor safety is its Walkway Auditor Certificate Holder (WACH) program. The program provides safety training to businesses and other groups so they know how to assess the traction of their walkways. Those who complete the training can then conduct a “walkway audit” of their business, nonprofit, etc., to make sure the best floor safety practices have been implemented.

Stairway Fall Statistics

Here are a few facts about stairway falls and other slip-and-fall accidents:

• The CPSC shows that U.S. hospitals reported more than 2.6 million injuries related to falls on stairways, ramps, landings, and floors in one recent year.
• CPSC research also shows roughly 807 people out of every 100,000 across the U.S. suffered such injuries in the same year.
• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says more than 3 million older adults nationwide are treated at emergency rooms for fall injuries every year.
• The CDC further reports that falls are the most common cause of traumatic brain injuries and that the total medical cost of fall injuries nationwide in one recent year was more than $50 billion.
• The NFSI says slip-and-fall accidents are the most common cause of workers’ compensation claims and are the primary cause of missed days at work.

Most Common Stair Injuries

Some common injuries from stairway falls include:

• Traumatic brain injuries
• External head injuries
• Back and spinal cord injuries
• Broken bones
• Sprains, strains, and other soft-tissue injuries
• Internal bleeding
• Cuts and bruises

Injured in a Slip-and-Fall Accident? We Are Here to Help

If you have been hurt in a stairway fall or similar accident, our New York slip-and-fall lawyers can help you seek compensation for your injuries. Contact David Resnick & Associates, P.C. today for a free consultation to learn more about your legal options.

Author: David Resnick

Founder of David Resnick & Associates, P.C., a New York personal injury law firm in charge of providing exceptional and personal service to each of our clients in various areas including car accidents, slip and fall, wrongful death, construction accidents, and premises liability. David Resnick founded the firm in 1998 after working in large law firms where he saw a need for greater client communication and more personal care.