The Pathology of Everyday Things – Stairways - Revisted

The Pathology of Everyday Things was the title of the Arnold M. Small Lecture in Safety at the 1996 HFES meeting. It focused on epidemiology and etiology in stair-related injuries. Balancing these micro-ergonomics issues were macro-ergonomics issues focused on the role of standards and codes for design. Now, nearly two decades later, there have been major developments in both micro and macro factors. Both need to be understood if we are to appreciate the very large growth in the rate of such injuries in the USA since 1996.