Building owners and facility managers deal with countless responsibilities every day. Among the most critical but often overlooked aspects is ensuring that stairs, walkways, and paths of travel meet safety standards.
Falls on the same level and falls to lower levels account for over 800 workplace fatalities each year in the United States, with many of these accidents occurring on stairs and walkways that don’t meet basic safety requirements.
OSHA requirements exist to prevent these tragedies from happening. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration sets clear standards for how buildings should be designed and maintained to protect everyone who walks through them.
The key question every building owner should ask: Does your facility actually meet these required standards for safety and accessibility? Many buildings fall short without anyone realizing it until an inspector arrives or an accident occurs.
What OSHA Requirements Mean for Your Building
OSHA stands for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, a federal agency established to ensure safe working conditions across American workplaces. Their standards apply to commercial buildings, industrial facilities, and any space where employees work.
The requirements of OSHA aren’t arbitrary rules designed to make life difficult—they’re based on decades of analyzing workplace accidents and determining what actually prevents injuries and deaths.
When buildings comply with OSHA building regulations, the benefits show up immediately in daily operations. Tradesmen move through spaces confidently without watching for hazards at every step.
Emergency evacuations proceed smoothly because paths remain clear and properly marked. Risk reduction goes beyond just preventing falls—clear walkways mean faster response times when emergencies occur, and proper lighting reduces eye strain and fatigue throughout the workday.
Why OSHA Building Regulations Matter
Non-compliance with OSHA building standards creates problems that extend far beyond safety concerns. Financial penalties can reach thousands of dollars per violation, and serious or repeated violations carry even steeper fines.
Legal issues compound when accidents occur in facilities that don’t meet code, as injured parties can pursue lawsuits with strong cases if they can demonstrate that substandard conditions caused their injuries.
The human cost matters most. When someone gets hurt because a building doesn’t meet basic safety standards, that person might face medical bills, lost wages, and long-term physical limitations. All of this could have been prevented by following OSHA requirements.
What Are the OSHA Standards for Stairs, Walkways, and Paths of Travel?
OSHA building standards provide specific, measurable requirements that remove guesswork from safety compliance.
Stairway Safety: Key OSHA Building Standards
Stairs might seem simple, but OSHA regulations specify precise dimensions that make them safe for regular use. Stair treads—the horizontal part where people step—must have a minimum depth that allows for secure foot placement.
OSHA building regulations require uniform dimensions throughout each stairway because when one step differs from the others, people trip due to disrupted muscle memory.
Risers, the vertical portions between treads, also follow strict height requirements:
- All risers in a single stairway must maintain the same height within a small tolerance
- Heights that are too tall make people struggle to lift their feet high enough
- Heights that are too short create awkward stepping patterns that lead to stumbling
- Consistency throughout the entire stairway is non-negotiable
Handrails aren’t optional decorative elements. OSHA requirements mandate handrails on both sides of stairways wider than certain measurements, installed at specific heights measured from the stair nosing.
The handrails themselves need to be graspable, meaning they must have a shape and size that allows people to grip them firmly. All handrails must withstand significant force without breaking or pulling loose.
Proper lighting for stairways isn’t negotiable under OSHA building standards. Adequate illumination allows people to clearly see each step, identify hazards, and maintain balance. Stair surfaces require slip-resistant materials, particularly in areas exposed to moisture, because smooth surfaces that look attractive when dry become dangerous when wet.
Walkway and Path of Travel Design Requirements
Paths of travel include any route people use to move through a building: corridors, hallways, doorways, aisles, and transitions between different areas. OSHA requirements specify that these paths must remain clear of obstacles at all times—storage boxes, equipment, furniture, and other items cannot block walkways, even temporarily.
Minimum width requirements ensure that people can pass through safely, including those using mobility aids:
- Corridors must accommodate wheelchairs, walkers, and crutches
- Emergency personnel need space to move quickly while carrying equipment
- Two people should be able to pass each other comfortably
- Clear height requirements prevent people from hitting their heads on low-hanging objects
OSHA building standards require clear, visible signage marking emergency exits and evacuation routes. These signs must be illuminated and remain visible even when normal lighting fails.
Floor markings help define safe walkways in warehouses and manufacturing facilities, with yellow or white lines creating visual boundaries that everyone can recognize instantly.
OSHA’s Focus on Accessibility
The Americans with Disabilities Act works alongside OSHA requirements to ensure buildings accommodate people with various mobility needs. Doorways must meet minimum width requirements to allow wheelchair passage, while ramps need specific slope ratios to prevent them from being too steep.
Accessible pathways cannot have abrupt level changes. Small height differences that able-bodied people step over easily can stop wheelchairs completely or create serious tripping hazards for people with limited mobility.
Are You Meeting OSHA and Code Requirements for Your Stairs and Walkways?
Many building owners assume their facilities meet standards without actually verifying compliance through systematic inspection.
How to Assess Your Building’s Compliance
A thorough assessment starts with physically walking through the entire facility with OSHA building regulations in mind. Bring a checklist and measuring tools to verify dimensions rather than relying on visual estimates.
Start with these fundamental questions:
- Are all stairs free of debris, stored items, or any obstacles that could cause trips?
- Do handrails remain secure when tested with firm pressure, and are they mounted at proper heights?
- Can two people pass each other comfortably in all corridors and walkways?
- Do emergency personnel have clear paths wide enough to move quickly while carrying equipment?
- Is lighting adequate throughout all stairs and walkways, including backup emergency lighting?
Measure actual dimensions of stairs, including tread depth and riser height. Check that emergency exit signs are visible, properly lit, and pointing in the correct directions. Test the slip resistance of stair and walkway surfaces, paying extra attention to areas that get wet regularly.
Common Building Code Violations
Certain violations appear frequently during OSHA inspections because they develop gradually or result from well-intentioned but misguided changes.
Handrail Problems
Improper handrail heights represent one of the most common violations. Building owners sometimes install handrails at heights that seem comfortable without actually measuring against OSHA requirements.
Loose or wobbly handrails that haven’t been properly maintained also fail inspections regularly. Some facilities have handrails on only one side of stairways when regulations require them on both sides.
Professional contractors can adjust mounting heights, add missing handrails, or replace decorative versions with code-compliant alternatives. Regular inspection and tightening of loose fasteners prevent more serious issues.
Uneven Steps and Surface Problems
Stairs with uneven tread depths or riser heights often result from settling foundations, amateur repairs, or modifications made without proper planning. These inconsistencies create serious tripping hazards because people expect uniform dimensions.
Worn or damaged stair surfaces also violate OSHA building standards—broken treads, chipped edges, or surfaces that have become slippery over time all need attention.
Addressing uneven steps usually requires professional assessment and repair. Surface problems might be fixable through repairs or treatments, but sometimes full replacement becomes necessary to meet the requirements of OSHA.
Inadequate Lighting
Poorly lit stairs and walkways cause accidents that proper lighting would prevent:
- Burned-out bulbs that don’t get replaced promptly
- Fixtures that don’t provide sufficient illumination
- Areas with no emergency backup lighting
- Dark corners and shadowed areas at the top or bottom of stairs
- Walkways with inconsistent lighting that impair vision
Fixing lighting issues often proves simpler than addressing structural problems. Replace inadequate fixtures with brighter models and establish maintenance schedules that ensure burned-out bulbs get replaced immediately.
Obstructed Pathways
Storage creep happens in almost every facility. What starts as temporarily setting a box in a hallway turns into a permanent obstruction as more items accumulate. OSHA building regulations strictly prohibit these obstructions, but they appear constantly. Exit doors that don’t open fully because items are stored behind them violate multiple safety codes.
Solutions require establishing and enforcing clear policies about keeping paths of travel open. Designate proper storage areas away from walkways and conduct regular inspections to identify and remove obstructions before they cause problems.
Making Your Building Safer Starting Today
Meeting OSHA requirements for stairs, walkways, and paths of travel protects everyone who uses your building. These requirements of OSHA serve purposes beyond simply avoiding fines during inspections—properly designed and maintained circulation spaces prevent injuries that disrupt lives and businesses.
Schedule a comprehensive compliance check of your facility if you haven’t done so recently. Walk through with a self-assessment checklist, measure actual dimensions against OSHA building standards, and identify areas that need attention. Small upgrades like adding missing handrails, improving lighting, or repairing damaged surfaces cost little but prevent major incidents.
Building safety isn’t a one-time achievement. Regular inspections, ongoing maintenance, and prompt repairs keep facilities compliant with OSHA building regulations. Make safety standards part of routine operations rather than something to worry about only when inspections loom.