Over 40% of Brits fall on stairs each year

​​​​​​​British Woodworking Federation’s Stair Scheme launches ‘Speak up for Stair Safety’ campaign in response to high number of stair-related incidents

According to new research released by the British Woodworking Federation (bwf), almost half of UK adults (43%) have experienced a slip, trip, or fall on the stairs in the last 12 months.

The findings highlight an often-overlooked risk in the home: 60% of those who had experienced a trip, slip or fall said it happened in their own property, highlighting the need for better awareness around stair safety.

The need for regular stair maintenance was also highlighted by nearly a third of accidents (32%) stated to be linked to broken safety features and poor maintenance, with the top five hazards cited as:

• slippery surfaces (40%)
• poor lighting (32%)
• items on the stairs (29%)
• uneven steps (26%)
• lack of handrails (23%)

In response to the research findings, the BWF has launched a safety awareness campaign, Speak up for Stair Safety, to champion the urgent need for safer stair habits and staircase design.

Younger adults displayed a higher risk for trips, slips and falls on the stairs, with over 60% of those aged 18-34 reporting accidents in the last 12 months, starkly contrasting to just 33% of over 65s.

However, while younger people are having accidents more often, the older population faces a greater risk of fatal injury from a fall on the stairs. More than 850 deaths of those aged 65+ in 2023 were caused by ‘fall on and from stairs and steps’ according to ONS data.

Lifestyle factors such as rushing (25%), carrying items (10%) and digital distractions such as phone use (5%) may be contributing to this increased risk for young tradespeople – even if the resulting impact of a slip, trip or fall is not as severe as those faced by the older generation.