According to the Occupational Safety & Health Administration’s regulation 1910.24(f) in regards to industrial stairs, “All treads shall be reasonably slip-resistant and the nosings shall be of non-slip finish”.  There are many types of safety stair treads on the market, so how do you know which one is right for you?  Here are a couple of questions to ask yourself when searching for safety stair treads.

• Are you looking for something permanent or a quick fix?
  • While taped on or painted on products seem to be a quick and a inexpensive way to renovate your stairs, consider the facts.  Taped on and painted on products can require a lot of maintenance and may not last long. 

SlipNOT®^® stair treads can be installed just as quickly, with little down time and little to no maintenance.

• Will a surface with extrusions cause more trips or prevent more slips?
  • Many new safety stair tread products available consist of a surface that is serrated, dimpled, or with extrusions.  These extrusions are meant to prevent slips.  However, surfaces with these extrusions may prevent slips but can cause trips due to an uneven surface.  An uneven surface can also prevent certain machinery and wheeled traffic from traveling smoothly.

 SlipNOT®^®’s advanced state of the art technology applies the patented slip resistant coating to smooth plate and smooth bar grating, for 100 % surface coverage and an even working surface. 

• Does this company have references?
  • Do the research.  Many companies claim to have a slip resistant product that is tried and true but do not meet expectations once installed.  Ask the company for references and case studies where the product has been used in similar industries or in a similar application. 

SlipNOT®^® posts case studies weekly and provides references to its customers for feedback and information on how the products performed.

These are just a couple of questions to ask yourself when looking for safety stair treads.  It is important to read and research a product thoroughly before going with a traditional product that may have a low coefficient of friction when wet or settling for a temporary fix that will cost more down the road in maintenance.  Find out the coefficient of friction for safety stair treads and the surface hardness, as well as the bond strength.  Also, get a sample of the safety stair tread.  If possible, request a larger sample to install and test first.

Filed under: Safety Stair Treads by Beth Faraci Social tagging: no slip safety stair tread > safety stair tread > safety stair treads