Each workplace should be provided with safe and comfortable access. Pedestrian routes should be constructed and marked in accordance with Polish Standards and applicable regulations, avoiding threats to users. The surfaces of roads, maneuvering areas, parking lots, storage areas, access roads for fire services and passages should be even, hard or hardened, and meet appropriate load-bearing standards. Inside rooms and on roads within buildings, floors should be stable, flat, non-slip, more resistant to abrasion and loads, and easy to keep clean. The surfaces of stairs, platforms and ramps should not be slippery, and in places where dust may accumulate – they should be openwork.

• Stairs

The width of the steps of fixed internal stairs should result from the condition defined by the formula: 2h + s = 0.6 to 0.65 m, where h is the height of the step, s – its width. The maximum height of steps in public buildings, production buildings, warehouses and service buildings cannot exceed 17.5 cm, exceptionally 19 cm in service buildings employing up to 10 employees.

External and internal stairs intended to overcome height differences exceeding 0.5 m should be equipped with balustrades or other protection on the side of the open space.

• Transport routes

No thresholds or steps should be used on transport routes or in storage areas. In a situation where there are differences in floor levels, these differences should be leveled by using a ramp with an angle of inclination adapted to the type of means of transport used, but not exceeding 8%. If it is necessary to use anti-slip measures on the ramp, they should be implemented.

• Signage

Steps or other places on crossings that pose a risk of tripping, falling or hitting should be clearly visible and marked with safety colors in accordance with Polish Standards. It is also worth marking places where there is a local change in floor material, e.g. coverings of inspection and technological openings and manholes.

Source: PIP materials

Supported by Norway through Norway Grants 2014-2021, in the frame of the Programme “Social Dialogue – Decent Work”.