When you think of aluminum tread plates you may think of the traditional shiny plates with a raised diamond pattern that cover truck boxes or steps used to get into a truck. This inexpensive product is often purchased due to its low cost and availability. These aluminum tread plates can be as dangerous as a smooth surface plate when covered in water or oil. While a lower cost may look appealing, these plates become worn unevenly and eventually wear down to a smooth surface again, forcing you to buy all new material. When dealing with a lot of weight bearing and heavy duty damage these plates do not withstand the force you need in factory or shipping environments for a long period of time.

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Slip and fall accidents occur on a daily basis.  A few places they may occur are on trucks with aluminum tread plate installed on the walking and working surface, on ladder rungs, and on slick flooring areas in manufacturing plant, among others.  Preventing these accidents can be done with a few simple precautions.  According to “The Guide to Prevent Slips, Trips and Falls”, published by the Australian Government, some of the most common hazards for slips and falls are:

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A new white paper entitled “New Findings on Serious Injuries and Fatalities,” by BST Solutions, a safety consulting firm that strives to help companies become injury-free, reflects new findings on the differences in preventing serious injuries as opposed to non-serious injuries.  While safety measures such as plain tread plate flooring, slip resistant shoes, safety procedures, and record keeping may help prevent some injuries, fatalities and serious injuries may not be affected.

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With more than 45 years of experience in the fire apparatus industry, Alan Saulsbury, currently head of Plastisol North America, discussed with attendees the past, present and future NFPA standards as well as basic rules of thumb for apparatus design.  One essential point was “Aluminum tread plate doesn’t last 20 years—spec aggressive tread. “  Many architects and engineers also recommended specifying a more aggressive tread for demanding environments such as fire safety.

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