This is the sequel to the previous article about indoor hazards that guests may encounter. While the previous article focused only on interior concerns, this article addresses common exterior concerns.
Walking Surface Concerns:
Ground and Surface Issues: Uneven ground, potholes, and slopes can cause tripping accidents. Slippery surfaces on patios, decks, or walkways can cause slips and falls. Overgrown grasses and weeds can hide uneven surfaces, which may cause a guest to trip or twist an ankle.
Steps and Stairs Issues: Loose, broken, steep, or uneven steps can lead to falls. Slippery steps, from weather or poor drainage, can also cause falls and injuries. Missing handrails and improper handrails or grips on stairways can prevent a person from catching themselves when starting to fall.
Deck and Patio Issues: Loose boards or protruding fasteners on decks create trip and fall risks. Damaged or deteriorated boards present serious injury concerns, particularly when failure occurs during use. (I recently fell through a deck board during an inspection and had a tender knee for several days.)
Structural Concerns:
Railings and Barriers: Loose or damaged railings on balconies, decks, and porches pose injury risks if failure occurs during use. Inadequate railing height compromises stair safety. Large baluster spacing creates fall-through hazards for small children, who can slip through the openings.
Walls and Structures: Loose retaining wall bricks or blocks present dual safety hazards: falling masonry can cause injury to guests below, while loose masonry creates fall risks for anyone walking on the wall. Low-clearance eaves and doorways pose head injury risks when adequate warning signage is absent.
Damaged deck
Obstruction Concerns:
Pathway Obstructions: Walkways obstructed by vegetation, garden equipment, or outdoor furniture create navigation hazards. Trip concerns are created by extension cords crossing walkways or paths. Casement windows opening directly onto walkways pose collision risks for unsuspecting guests, especially when there are inadequate visual indicators or clearance warnings.
Overhead Concerns: Low-hanging branches or vegetation with dead or protruding branches can injure guests. Low-hanging electrical hazards, including power lines, string lights, and extension cords, present dual risks: collision concerns and potential electrical shock concerns.
Visibility and Lighting Concerns:
Poor Lighting Conditions: Inadequate lighting at walkways and other outdoor areas create visibility conditions that can hide trip risks, elevation changes, garden furniture, or stored equipment.
Specialized Area Concerns:
Swimming Pool Areas: Pools lacking adequate safety barriers, proper fencing, or required drowning prevention devices pose access control and drowning hazards, with particular risk to young children. (California requires at least two drowning prevention devices for residential pools.)
Children's Play Areas: Damaged playground equipment and sharp edges on play structures are injury concerns for children who may not recognize potential dangers.
Garden and Landscaping Areas: Thorny vegetation, including roses and bougainvillea, or sharp-leaved plants such as ornamental grasses can lacerate unsuspecting guests. Toxic plants, including oleander, Angel’s Trumpet and foxglove, pose significant poisoning risks. Improperly stored sharp gardening tools present additional injury hazards and should be properly stored.
Risk Prevention Strategies:
Regular Maintenance: Inspect your outdoor areas for potential hazards when planning for guests. Pay attention to loose decks boards, broken steps, and overgrown vegetation. Repair any damaged steps, railings, and walking surfaces. Maintain proper drainage to prevent slippery or mossy areas. Prune plants and remove dead branches as part of routine gardening.
Safety Compliance: Install required drowning prevention devices and safety barriers around pools and spas in accordance with local building codes and safety regulations. Provide adequate illumination for outdoor guest areas.
Thoughtful Planning: Choose plants carefully, considering size, thorns, and toxicity in relation to high-traffic and easily accessible areas. Store unused outdoor furniture and equipment to clear common areas. Keep walkways clear of obstructions and debris. Install sufficient lighting systems to ensure safe navigation during evening hours and low-light conditions.
Regular inspections, maintenance, and proactive safety measures can significantly reduce the risk of outdoor accidents and create a safer environment for guests.
Low overhead at bottom of stairsLow wires on propertyExcessive stored items outsideFoxglove in bloom