Sidewalk Safety

April 24, 2014 No Comments

Over time, sidewalk slabs can heave vertically due to winter frost or tree roots.  The edges between adjacent slabs can have a difference of 1-inch, 2-inches, or even more.  This creates a significant tripping hazard – especially for senior citizens and older employees.

OSHA does not have a standard that applies to outside sidewalks.  If the sidewalk is on public land, most municipalities have standards that would apply.

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Recently I contacted a Wisconsin USA municipality and asked about their sidewalk standard.  I was told that any vertical displacement over ¾ inch is in violation of the city’s sidewalk standard.  Of course this measurement will vary from city to city, so you might want to contact the Public Works Director in your city to determine what this standard is where you live.

Once a sidewalk safety violation is found there are various ways to address it.

• The old concrete can be broken up, removed, and new concrete can be poured.  This is usually time consuming and expensive
• A special concrete grinder (like a floor buffer) can be brought in to grind down the concrete (see photos below).  This process is relatively quick (less than an hour) and costs about $100 USD

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