Hazards can lurk anywhere...watch your step

While on a lunch stop during a vacation trip through Tennessee, I happened across a safety hazard that required immediate attention. The establishment had a raised concrete patio at the front with a steel railing around the perimeter. At one edge of the patio was a set of stairs with a continuation of the steel railing used as a handrail. The top edge of the patio had light strings wrapping the top metal bar as accent lighting for the perimeter. The light string continued down the stair handrail wrapped in the same manner as the rest of the patio.

While walking down the stairs, it became apparent that two bulbs were missing from the sockets on the portion of the light string that wrapped the handrail. The sockets, a common Edison-style base, were open to the weather. More significantly, the open sockets were in the path of a person’s hand (adult or child) sliding down the handrail while traversing the stairs.

The damaged condition of the light strings due to the missing bulbs presented an electrocution hazard. While the risk of electrocution may be mitigated if the light strings were supplied by the required National Electric Code (NEC) Article 527.5, Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) protected circuit, the condition of the light string presented a hazard.

Further, wrapping of the light string around the handrail violates the International Building Code (IBC) requirements. Section 1012.4 Continuity states, “Handrail gripping surfaces shall be continuous, without interruption by newel posts or other obstructions.” The random placement of the cable from the light string randomly interferes with the continuous profile of the handrail.

While there were likely good intentions with the placement of the light string to add light to the stairs, the method used impeded the use of the handrail. Further, the lack of maintenance by not replacing the missing bulbs crated a shock or electrocution hazard. Beware of these lurking hazards. If things don’t look right, they probably aren’t.

Tom Kelly is an engineer with Warren Forensics. His 25-year career in electrical engineering includes forensic engineering investigations involving industrial electrical accidents, electrical equipment failure analysis, control system failures, robotics and automation components, and scope of damage assessments. Contact him at tom@warrenforensics.com.  

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