STAIRS
- (Inside the Building)
- Ensure free from slip and trip hazards.
- Make stair edges more visible by using bright
yellow coloured tape or non-skid paint to highlight edges.
- Use special lighting and warning signs to
warn users of steep or irregular stairs.
- Ensure stairs are uniform – the rises
should be the same height (7”)
and the tread should be the same width (11”).
- Use handrails that are round with a circumference
of 120mm.
FLOORS & AISLES
- Keep free from slip and trip hazards such
as water, uneven surfaces.
- Wash floors before opening in morning or
after closing in evening.
- Keep aisles free of clutter (boxes, merchandise,
produce).
- Keep exit routes free from obstructions.
- Use slip-resistant floors to prevent falls
if water or snow is tracked in from outside.
ENTRANCES & EXITS
- Provide handrails on any stairs or ramps
coming into or in the building.
- Doors to a public entrance should open easily
with one hand – even for a person with limited dexterity.
- Doors should have a wide entrance* (at least
81 cm) and should not have steps that could cause trips.
- Use hydraulic springs to make heavy doors
easier to open. This is a cost effective alternative to
installing automatic doors.
- Use non skid mats
- Keep mats flat, clean and free of water and
snow, using a mop constantly in the winter. Take mats up
at night and hang to dry.
- Provide seating that is a minimum of 18 inches
from the ground and have arm rests.
PARKING LOT OR STREET ACCESS
- Disabled parking space at least 12 ‘
wide and marked with a vertical sign.
- Remove snow rather than ploughing it into
piles that block pedestrian travel.
- Provide adequate drainage where salt is
used to melt snow, to prevent water from accumulating, freezing
and creating a hazard.
- Ensure that all pedestrian routes are clearly
marked and all obstacles are brightly coloured.
VISUALLY IMPAIRED
- Seniors need twice the illumination.
- Shiny floors can cause difficulties with
depth perception.
- Braille signs inside of a building enable
blind individuals to safely find their way around the building.
- The blind need touchable cues to warn of
the presence of a staircase and the ending of a staircase.
WASHROOMS
- Locate washrooms so they are convenient,
accessible and well-marked.
- Install round, slip-resistant handrails for
wheel chair transfers.
- Locate hand towels near sinks to reduce the
amount of water on the floor.
- Use slip resistant flooring.
SHELVES, RACKS & DISPLAYS
- Secure shelves and racks so they cannot be
moved or tipped when leaned against or grasped.
- Place heavier products on lower shelves.
- Keep floors cleared of clothes hangers and
racks with protruding legs.
* Reminder – all renovations
must meet the
“Ontario Building Code”
Download
& Print the Thumbs Up Tips brochure
Information
provided by: STEPS Project, Victoria BC, Safe Stores:
"Stores Blitz", North Bay, ON, and the 2002
Canadian Standards Association (www.csa.ca), Toronto,
ON
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