Most types of flooring are slip-resistant when dry, but this effectiveness decreases when water, dust, oil, or solvents contaminate the surface. And when there’s not enough friction or traction between the footwear and the walking surface, slips happen. Anti-slip walkway covers are used to solve this problem, providing workers with the grip they need to move safely and get the job done.
Read on to learn the basics of this anti-slip protection solution and its benefits on construction sites.
What Are Anti-Slip Walkway Covers?
Anti-slip walkway covers are protective surfaces designed to improve traction on floors and walkways. If you’re at a construction site, you’ll see these covers in areas with high foot traffic, damp spots, and on ascending ramps where extra grip is needed for safety. They often come in black, grey, and sometimes in high visibility colours like yellow.
Up close, these walkway covers usually have a gritty or textured surface. This rough texture ensures that workers have secure footing, even in wet or oily conditions.
What Materials Are Used in Anti-Slip Walkway Covers?
These surface covers are made from different materials, depending on the brand and the manufacturers — but all must have abrasion resistance qualities. One great example is fibreglass, particularly the variant Glass-fibre Reinforced Plastic or GRP. Not only does it have a high slip resistance, but it’s also resistant to chemicals and corrosion. Products made from this material guarantee they meet quality safety standards.
Take Maingard’s anti-slip walkway cover, for instance. It’s made from UV-stabilised GRP sheets, tread, and stair nosings designed to offer exceptional levels of slip resistance while having outstanding wear and tear qualities. These characteristics extend this product’s usage not only for construction workers on site but also for pedestrians and more!
Benefits of Anti-slip Walkway Covers on Construction Sites
The application of walkway covers on sites extend beyond safety measures. While their main purpose is to prevent slips and falls, they also help with the following:
- Regulatory compliance: HSE regulations require employers to ensure walkways and working surfaces are safe from hazards that could cause slips, trips, or falls. While these regulations don’t specifically mandate anti-slip walkway covers, they do require measures to prevent accidents on slippery surfaces. Anti-slip covers are a common solution to meet these safety requirements. For more details, you can visit the HSE’s official page on slips and trips here.
- Fewer accident-related delays: With anti-slip walkway covers in place, the likelihood of slip-related accidents is significantly reduced. This means fewer disruptions to the workflow caused by accidents. When workers feel safe and secure, they can focus better on their tasks, leading to more consistent progress and helping projects stay on schedule. In return, costs from accidents like medical bills and lost work time are cut down.
- Asset protection: Anti-slip covers don’t just prevent slipping; they also protect floors or walkways from damage. When placed, they protect the floor underneath from wear and tear caused by foot traffic or equipment rolling over them. This floor protection perk is especially useful during home renovation projects.
With these covers on-site, workplace safety can improve, leading to fewer incidents and a lower chance of needing remedial work.
While you’re at it, check out our range of temporary floor protection. We recommend Floorgard Corry Board for long-term use and demanding projects that use corrugated sheets like correx. Contact us via hello@s-pgroup.com or call +44 (028) 9442 8611. SP Group is a temporary floor protection supplier based in the UK and Ireland.