by Emily Newton
Warehouse safety is often compromised by the overlooked vulnerability of trench and vault covers. These items prevent people from falling through openings, getting injured or otherwise experiencing related accidents. Additionally, they promote pedestrian safety through specifically designed textures. This guide utilizes SLIPNOT®’s technical leadership to help warehouse managers evaluate the specific features necessary to eliminate slip-and-fall incidents in demanding industrial spaces.
Surface Functionality
When assessing facility safety, manufacturing leaders often scrutinize trench and utility vault covers as high-risk transition points. It isn’t just about the initial texture of the cover. The real test is how that surface maintains its grip once moisture or industrial oils enter the equation.
Take traditional diamond-plate flooring, for example. While it remains a common industry staple, its reliability can be deceptive. Once wet, the coefficient of friction on the diamond plate drops significantly, effectively turning a familiar walkway into a serious slip hazard for both pedestrians and heavy equipment.
An automotive parts manufacturer replaced worn diamond-plate steel flooring with Grade 2 steel plates in several locations and Grade 3 steel in extremely high-traffic areas after a trial period. It was especially important for them to find a durable and effective nonslip option because some parts of the facility become oily during production. Employees could step confidently after the installation. This manufacturer also utilized many customization options to match their specific needs.
Thickness and Load Ratings
The thickness and load rating of a trench and vault cover are important factors to consider when researching options. Industrial professionals should consider the type and level of pedestrian or vehicular traffic, and the location of these products. Thicker options and forklift-rated trench covers suit use cases where heavy equipment will frequently drive over the vault covers. SLIPNOT®’s vault covers are available in thicknesses of a quarter-inch and greater, creating high-traction walking surfaces.
Along with considering the trench cover load rating, leaders should assess whether parties other than warehouse workers will walk across the nonslip surface. For example, utility workers may need to park vehicles with cherry pickers across the covers to perform repairs or upgrades. Executives can then choose the products’ thicknesses and load ratings accordingly.
Ease of Maintenance and Care
Although leaders may initially apply products such as nonslip tape to trench and vault covers, that addition quickly wears down in busy warehouses. The gradual, ongoing wear results in progressively less traction. Likewise, if someone does not install the tape properly, it could pull away from the surface and pose a tripping hazard.
Conversely, longer-lasting solutions bond to metal and create high-friction surfaces. Workers can regularly clean them with the most commonly available products and should do so to prevent the natural buildup of residue that could make the surfaces’ natural peaks and valleys smoother. SLIPNOT® products use surface technology that bonds molten metal to substrates at more than 4,000 PSI, resulting in surfaces that will not flake or chip.
Employee Impacts
A low-maintenance solution also reduces overall operating costs while simultaneously lowering workforce risks, such as the chances that employees need urgent time off due to accidents and related injuries from slip-and-fall incidents. Executives can substantially lower risks by carefully assessing the workplace to identify which areas pose the greatest issues and why. They can then use that information to identify the best solutions and engage in productive discussions with potential service providers.
Leaders from a construction equipment manufacturer wanted to reduce employee risks associated with numerous confined spaces and oily areas. The facility included drains and steel-hatch doorways. Decision-makers dealt with this issue by installing coated, perforated steel plates to mitigate the risks. That approach eliminated the former slip hazard of the steel hatch door and enabled workers to regularly walk on the drain area without safety incidents.
Facility Characteristics
Executives evaluating nonslip trench and vault covers should assess the areas of their facilities where they plan to install these products. Selecting options that prevent slips is an excellent first step, but executives also need to verify what sizes they need. A poorly fitting cover may counteract all the expected benefits while introducing additional safety risks, yet a properly fitting one maximizes employees’ safety in busy areas.
They should also realize that facilities do not use a single trench style. Verifying what type the facility has is the best way to anticipate successful applications. There are some typical characteristics, such as long, narrow shapes. Beyond that, there are four trench drain types, each with different features. Regardless of the type of trench in a facility, installing a grate or cover flush with the surface enables drainage while creating a walking surface.
While evaluating aspects of a facility, executives should have in-depth discussions with product providers to discuss current challenges and the ideal outcomes. Those conversations will help representatives make the most appropriate product recommendations and provide accurate, reliable advice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Learn more about warehouse floor covers.
Are nonslip trench and vault covers available in custom colors? Yes, many suppliers can customize these products to meet aesthetic needs.
Do nonslip trench and vault covers come with warranties? Warranty coverage varies by product and brand, but many providers offer it as a selling point that enhances overall trustworthiness.
Will nonslip trench and vault covers rust? Many companies sell varieties with built-in corrosion resistance. Customers who deem this an essential characteristic should verify the specifics with company representatives before selecting products.
How can professionals measure the effectiveness of new nonslip trench and vault covers? Once leaders have developed their preferred use cases, they should track outcomes after installation to determine whether the products made their warehouses safer through risk mitigation. It is then easier to justify adding the trench and vault covers elsewhere after studying the initial effects.
Satisfaction From Nonslip Trench and Vault Covers
Warehouse leaders must assess numerous factors before purchasing nonslip trench and vault covers. While this preliminary process takes time and energy, participants get significant payoffs by making their facilities safer with durable, practical solutions.
