Watch Your Step! Staying Safe on a Fire Escape

Recently one morning I was at an Upper East Side building taking measurements for a Local Law 11/98 repair program. As I was walking down the fire escape from the fourth floor, one of the metal steps broke off and fell to the landing below. Fortunately I was holding on to the railings with both hands and did not get injured, and the step did not fall on a person. But it was scary nonetheless.

I immediately notified the building super, who helped me down the fire escape, and I informed a board member of the unsafe condition. I looked closely at where the step gave way: The attachment bolts and plates were heavily rusted, but they were painted over several times so the deterioration was hard to detect at a glance. The board has since asked Rand to incorporate steel repairs as part of the scope of work.

My Rand colleagues have told me of their similar fire escape scares, including one where a step broke away and the engineer’s leg went through the space all the way up to his thigh. As in my incident, he wasn’t injured, and the step fell to the landing below and not to the ground where it could have hit someone.

A couple of common sense fire escape safety tips:

• Keep two hands on the railings at all times.
• Take one step at a time, and test each step before putting your full weight on it.
• Walk up and down the fire escape facing the stairs. That way if you fall, you will fall towards the steps and railings instead of away from them.
• Residents should keep fire escapes clear of debris and obstructions, including plants, rugs, chairs, grilles, clothes, etc. Not only are they tripping hazards; they are also a violation of the Building Code.
• Building owners should have fire escapes checked regularly by maintenance staff. Hazards such as loose or missing railings, steps, or slats; sharp edges; rust/deterioration; structural instability, etc., should be repaired immediately. See our Ask the Engineer column for more on refurbishing a fire escape.

Stay safe!