One of the things that protects you while climbing steps, walking through a parking structure and climbing stairs in motion is handrails. They provide you with sufficient grip and prevent falls or slips, thus protecting you from minor to major injuries.
These safety handrails, though ignorable, often play an important role in ensuring accessibility, stability and protection for everyone. They are particularly essential in such places where movement and vehicles intersect, where you can see the elderly or children passing through many times.
Today, we will understand the importance of handrails and how they enhance safety in parking areas and during travel.
Importance of handrails:
Most of the parking structures in malls or big showrooms have dim lights, where visibility is not present. Handrails are critical in such areas where people can easily access stairs without any problem. Let’s see some more reasons:
- You can prevent falls and slips
Walking surfaces become slippery when wet due to rain, snow, oil spills, or debris. It provides a strong grip for pedestrians navigating slippery surfaces, such as ramps, stairs, and uneven ground, thereby reducing the risk of falls. It’s especially beneficial to persons who are older, disabled and children. - You can guide foot traffic properly
Handrails play a huge role in navigating foot traffic, especially in vital areas like multilevel garages that have limited visibility. If the handrails are clear and visible enough, pedestrians can keep on walking on the safe tracking path without interfering with the moving vehicles. It’s a safe way to commute if you are walking to your destination. - A proper way to assist the elderly and disabled
People who have mobility challenges, using a safety rail makes all the difference. Imagine having sufficient support when you are travelling on a heavily trafficked road. It provides independence and a sense of security as it’s easily accessible to everyone. When these handrails are found in parking facilities, there will be no accidents, preventing any legal issues that you have to face.This is how handrails protect you from potential falls and injuries when installed in all the parking facilities. They help in avoiding common hazards, ensuring your safety and security.
Importance of handrails in travel infrastructure:
You can find the safety railing in train stations, airports, bus stations and wherever there is a huge rush in commuting. They keep the travellers safe and steady, especially when people have to quickly exchange levels or platforms.
- They increase stair and ramp safety
Bus stations and railway platforms are busy during peak hours. People are in a hurry, and if the handrails are not present, there will be pushes and falls, leading to injuries. To avoid accidents during rush hours, especially for those who have luggage, handrails are a boon. - Provide stability to the moving platform
You can see moving platforms in airports and railway stations. Imagine people not having support while travelling on it, especially when there’s luggage or they have to attend a phone call. It becomes difficult and unsafe. Having handrails means you are giving users a steadying point, thus minimising the risk of injury and imbalance. - They help in emergency evacuations
When there is an emergency situation, you can use handrails as life-saving guides. When people have evacuated urgently, they can make use of these safety rails to exit quickly and safely. Imagine their importance in places with no proper visibility.
How To Get the Best Out of Handrails?
To get maximum benefits from a handrail, you have to choose it perfectly. Concentrating on the material, design, and visibility will help you satisfy your needs according to the situation.
- Always choose stainless steel, aluminium and powder-coated metals to get durability and weather resistance. As you have to install them in parking areas where there is no coverage from the sun’s rays, choosing these materials will prevent corrosion and other wear and tear.
- Handrails with rounded grips, proper height and smooth finishes are the best to install as they are easily accessible to all kinds of people.
- For low-visibility areas, handrails adorned with reflective or illuminated coating will help enhance safety.
Final thoughts
Handrails are a minor structural detail; however, their role in providing safety is paramount. They are essential in public places like parking facilities and travel hubs where people are usually in a hurry. They protect you with every step you take and make your travel safer and quicker.
