Stairways and Temporary Stairs During Construction

Why it matters

Permanent stairs get used long before they are finished: no rails yet, no treads yet, pans full of debris. OSHA has specific rules for stairways used during construction, including when pan stairs can be climbed and what rails must be up. The stairwell is the busiest square footage on the job, and today we make sure it is not the most dangerous.

Hazards

• ⚠ Climbing pan stairs with unfilled pans or slick temporary fill
• ⚠ Missing stair rails and handrails on open sides
• ⚠ Debris, cords, and material stored on treads and landings
• ⚠ Poor lighting in enclosed stairwells
• ⚠ Uneven riser heights catching feet in dim light
• ⚠ Door swings at landings knocking workers back down the flight

Controls and safe practices

• ✓ Do not use metal pan stairs until pans are filled with concrete or secured temporary material to spec.
• ✓ Stair rails and handrails installed on every open side before general use, 4 or more risers or over 30 inches.
• ✓ Keep treads and landings clear: no storage, no cords across steps, cleaned every shift.
• ✓ Light every stairwell: temporary lighting working on every flight before dark trades start.
• ✓ Fix or flag variations in riser height; they trip people even in daylight.
• ✓ Landings clear of door swings, and doors with vision panels where traffic is heavy.
• ✓ Report damaged treads and wobbly rails immediately; barricade the flight until fixed.

Crew discussion questions

1. Which stairwells are open for use and which are off limits right now?
2. Are all our pan stairs filled, and who verifies after each pour?
3. Where are the dark spots in our stairwells at 6 a.m.?
4. Whose job is stairwell housekeeping this week?

Applicable OSHA standards

29 CFR 1926.1052, 29 CFR 1926.25

More toolbox talks

• Ladder Safety
• Fall Protection Basics
• Heat Illness Prevention
• Lockout / Tagout: Controlling Energized Circuits
• Trench and Excavation Safety
• Silica Dust Control

Safety plans by trade

General ContractorAll toolbox talks