Proper Use of Steel Flooring in Facilities

Steel flooring is a flooring option used extensively in the manufacturing, metals and mining and infrastructure industries.  Steel flooring, like other flooring, has general standards and guidelines that must be met in order for it to be considered a safe walking-working surface.  The Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) offers the following general standards for walking-working surfaces:

1910.22(a)(2) All places of employment, passageways, storerooms and service rooms shall be kept clean and orderly and in a sanitary condition.

1910.22(a)(3) To facilitate cleaning, every floor, working place and passageway shall be kept free from protruding nails, splinters, holes or loose boards.

1910.22(b)(1) Where mechanical handling equipment is used, sufficient safe clearances shall be allowed for aisles, loading docks, through doorways and where turns or passage must be made. Aisles and passageways shall be kept clear and in good repairs, with no obstruction across or in aisles that could create a hazard.

1910.22(b)(2) Permanent aisles and passageways shall be appropriately marked.

1910.22(c) Covers and/or guardrails shall be provided to protect personnel from the hazards of open pits, tanks, vats, ditches, etc.

Following OSHA’s general guidelines ensure flooring such as steel flooring helps to provide workers with safety while working in facilities.  Failure to provide proper steel flooring could result in slip and fall accidents.  There are several types of steel flooring that can be installed within facilities to ensure the individual needs of the facility are met such as solid plate, perforated plate, expanded metal and grating.  To further ensure the safety of workers, employers can install .  Slip resistant flooring can prevent slip and falls when flooring is wet from oil, water, grease and other liquids.  By following OSHA’s general standards for walking-working surfaces and investing in steel flooring that is slip resistant, employers can prevent slip and fall hazards in the workplace.

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