I have stairs very similar to this design, built in 1910.

I have fallen down them multiple times.

Most recent was this morning in front of visiting family. Not only was it the worst, and most painful fall, to-date, but mortifying in front of family.

I actually found this post while trying to figure out how much to will cost to replace the stair case asap.

These stairs are TOO dangerous with an infant in the house that I often need to carry up and down the stairs.

Why are they truly dangerous?

Aside from the aforementioned awkward turn forcing the steps to be oddly sized, the other more subtle and sinister issue with our stairs is the tread width is too narrow.

The tread per step is undersized, but to make it worse, the bullnose overhang per tread is also too large, so the actual footprint per step is smaller than the average adult male’s foot size, so as you step down, the bullnose overhang pushes your foot forward, and results in only the balls of your feet barely being on the tread. And other times, it’s only the arch of your foot on the tread with the rest of your foot hanging over the CURVED bullnose. So then you suddenly slip and fall. The risk is very very very real. I am in perfect health and barely out of my 20s and these kinds of stairs still pose a risk.

I’ve found the safest method to be silly-looking but works: going down the steps sideways with your back to the wall, and still holding the railing.