Barriers to Developing a Stairway to Health Program

• Cost: a stairway to health program can be built on any kind of budget. Have a look at some examples in the costing out your program section and use the budget template to determine specifics.
• Motivation: Some people would rather take the elevator or escalator than the stairs. Have a look at the fact sheets under the motivating your employees section for ideas on how to get them climbing.
• Unattractiveness of Stairwells: making your stairwell more attractive is one of the easiest ways to encourage stair use. Have a look at the design considerations and ideas to increase stair use fact sheets for a host of ideas to increase the attractiveness of your stairway.
• Locked Stairwells: many workplaces have locked stairways that are not available to employees or are only accessible by key access cards. If this is the case in your workplace plan to work with your employer and property manager around possible solutions. Have a look at the convincing your employer and convincing your property manager sections for ideas on how to set up a meeting and prepare your presentation. You might also want to have a look at the fire and building codes for stairways section for information on codes that apply.
• Lack of Employer Support: have a look at the convincing your employer section for ideas on how the get your employer on board.
• Lack of Property Manager Support: have a look at the convincing your property manager section for ideas on how the get your property manager involved.
• Safety: have a look at the fact sheets under the safety considerations section for ideas on how to overcome personal safety and injury prevention issues.
• No real Health Benefits: some people feel that climbing the stairs has no tangible health benefits, but this is certainly not the case. Have a look at the benefits fact sheet for some ideas or have employees calculate the calories they burn by using the calorie calculator.

Developed in partnership by:


Canadian Council for Health and Active Living at Work

Go Smoke Free!

Business Case For Active Living At Work

Canada's Food Guide to Healthy Eating

Physical Activity Guide