Consistent step heights prevent injury.

Tom, we kind of take steps for granted when they are built correctly. Its easy to twist an ankle or knee if they aren't.

They had this on TV on some public stairs, they placed a camera and a huge percentage of users  tripped right at the uneven stairs.. . they presented as being funny. .but the potential to injury to someone carrying a child or an elderly person is as real as it gets. .

Tom - I couldn't agree more about consistency of stair height.  I have another pet peeve that has been going on for awhile now.  And that is those raised threshhold plates that seem to be more prevalent now.  A lot of them are getting installed in the effort to make homes more energy efficient.  However, they are a huge trip hazard.  I have an elderly neighbor, who had one installed by a partnered company with PG&E's energy program.  She tripped on the plate at the door that leads from her kitchen to the garage and fell.  She was banged up badly, but didn't break any bones.  Those raised plates should be taken out, and any weather stripping or whatever at these doors should be attached to the bottom of the door, rather than installed as a raised threshhold plate on the floor.

This happens a lot in our industry across America. Watch your step

I think part of the problem is after remodeling the floor heights change. Then the only option is to completely rip out the steps so they call can be done correctly. That expense makes people get used to the improper height of one step. It's when strangers are walking on them it gets dicey. Good post.

What a relevant post...I have and have had and have used steps that are not regulation or code. The result? You risk falling. We don't realize that we are programmed to take certain steps in a certain stride

Absolutely. Your brain starts making assumptions about step heights.

Hey Tom, happy to see the star attached to your stairs. ;)

It's pretty scary to show houses with uneven staircases - I always warn my clients to hold onto the railing - unless it too is coming loose from the wall - notice how they often go hand in hand?

It is funny how we can instinctively know that a step is "out of step," from the many years of using them. It always pays to use a professional.

I've heard about this before.  Supposedly even having stair heights that are too big or too smal can also create a safety issue.  Good idea to raise this issue, especially to folks remodeling.

I read a post once where they author said that the brain "learns" stair height after three steps.  So if there is a variance the brain will not recognize it until the trip!

tom:

I have found that steps to basements many not be uniform size in older homes with excavated basements.  One home in particular had uniform steps except for the last step which was about twice the depth of the other steps.  Yikes, I almost fell.  Good think I have good reflexes.

Good information, Tom. This is especially true with the aging population who may be sight impaired.

I'm very much aware of steps and other trip dangers these days having fallen twice this summer.  Between trip & fall hazards that are everywhere & my own klutziness around steps, I have to be very aware of my surroundings.  

I do not think people realize that steps have a certain rise for a reason.  When climbing stairs the brain takes over and they should all be the same or here comes the Humpty Dumpty story again.