ABSTRACT
Human beings slip, trip, and fall in many different circumstances and for many different reasons. For most children and able-bodied adults, the majority of these falls are not serious most of the time. However, for older or disabled adults, or when falls involve significant changes in level, the consequences of falling can be serious and even fatal. Balustrades are therefore provided to prevent people from falling from elevated structures such as balconies and stair landings. It would thus seem to be self-evident that these must be designed so as to protect all sizes of persons, from small children to tall men, including those who may be inebriated or under the influence of drugs. They must also protect the elderly and infirm, who may fall or suffer some sort of fainting fit and lose consciousness.
