How do you know that the management company have not already inspected the steps and found them to be perfectly alright – which is why nothing has been done?
Because they said they hadn’t. I went and asked them, yesterday.
Look, sheesh, I don’t mind admitting I’m wrong about something [everybody learns, right], and also I don’t mind the answer being “No it’s not worth it” or “there’s better ways”*.
What I do mind is people taking the piss. She’s hurt and we’re concerned for other people as well.
@gonfishin – leaving out the “always”, which won’t help, in this case we are thinking it might be necessary to fix them, yes. A quick google, finds the HSE advice, but also shows this up:
Liability for Slip and Fall Accidents:
To be legally responsible for the injuries you suffered from slipping or tripping and falling on someone else’s property, one of the following must be true:
-The owner of the premises or an employee caused the spill, worn or torn spot, or other slippery or dangerous surface or item, to be underfoot.
-The owner of the premises or an employee knew of the dangerous surface but did nothing about it.
-The owner of the premises or an employee should have known of the dangerous surface because a “reasonable” person taking care of the property would have discovered and removed or repaired it.”
The last two seem to apply here.
nolo goes on to say:
“Slippery Surfaces
A common hidden stair danger is worn-down carpet or wood that makes the “run” part of a stair — the part your foot lands on — dangerous. Often a slightly worn stair or carpet is more perilous than obviously worn stairs because people are not likely to notice the damage”
and
“Uneven Stair Height or Depth
Building codes also prescribe the maximum variance from one step to another — that is, the differences permitted in the height or depth of any one step from another.
The variance standard is important because when we go up or down stairs, our brains remember how far the last step was and automatically tell our legs to move the same distance the next time. If the leg moves the same distance but the step isn’t in the same place — even if the difference is only slight — we may lose our balance and fall.”
In light of all this we asked the question.
I will say again, we’re not trying to make money, or we’d have done it straightaway. We’re just worried that it’s not going to get fixed and is dangerous.
I think I’m going to have to stop replying at this point, I have a dissertation to write! I am interested to hear from people that have something to say that is based on facts/experience.
Thanks, anyway, kinda….
*which may be the case – The Council, perhaps.
