In a single or multi person work area, it is necessary to provide adequate access spaces, passageways and stairs.

Issue - The walkways and stairs that workers use to reach their workstations were unsafe in some places.

In this example, the stairs consist of a piece of expanded metal bent into the configuration of steps.  The angle of the steps is such that slips are likely and the expanded metal treads flex when they are stepped on, making for an unstable climbing surface.

On this elevated platform, there is no guard rail to prevent the worker from stepping or tripping from the platform.

Here, the platform surface is uneven due to matting installed to improve the comfort of the workers.  The uneven surface increases the tripping hazard.

Recommendations - Special catwalk, ladder and stair design requirements are often associated with heavy mobile equipment or complex plant machinery. Planning for the ingress, egress or mounting of these special vehicles or workstations should occur before basic designs make it more difficult to create a suitable catwalk/ladder/stair and handrail system. The designer should integrate the catwalks, ladders, stairs and handrails into the overall machine or facility concept early enough so that the driver or worker will have a safe approach to the workstation and back again to the ground or floor. The relationships between the catwalks, steps or ladders and the associated handholds or handrails are particularly critical to the safety of the person using them.

Follow the principles in Basic Design Recommendations for Stairs, Walkways and Ladders, which are based on the published literature, in considering the design of these special types of entry devices.