For Code Officials and Industry
The HARPER Laboratory studies how people actually use stairs, handrails and walking surfaces, and which changes to the built environment reduce falls. This page is for code officials, standards committees, manufacturers, designers and attorneys who need evidence rather than opinion.
What the research covers
Visual contrast on stair edges, including marking pattern, contrast level and how often steps are marked
Instrumented stairways, with force and motion data from real stair negotiation and stumble recovery
Handrail reach and use, including the effect of distraction such as mobile device use
Load carriage on stairs
Augmented reality methods for testing stair designs before they are built
Working with us
Evidence summaries for code and standards work, setting out what the published research does and does not support on a specific question
Testing and evaluation of a product, marking scheme or stairway design under controlled conditions with older and younger adults
Research partnerships with manufacturers, trade associations and federal sponsors
Expert witness and consultation
Dr. Harper provides human factors expert witness and consulting services in matters involving stair falls, stairway design and geometry, visual contrast and lighting, handrail design and use, and slip, trip and fall incidents. Work includes site inspection, review of case materials and code documents, human factors and biomechanical analysis, written reports, deposition and trial testimony.
Availability is subject to a conflict check. For a case review, please include the date and location of the incident, the parties involved, and a short description of the stairway or walking surface at issue.
Dr. Harper is listed on Expert iQ.
Get in touch
For expert witness inquiries, email Dr. Harper at sara.harper@uah.edu or call 256-824-2184.