SLIPS, TRIPS & FALLS GET A GRIP
Anti-slip products are used in a wide variety of public spaces, both inside and out, to prevent injury, explains GripClad.
In everyday life, anti-slip products are used to help people avoid risk, especially in wet weather where slips and trips are more likely to happen. In workplaces alone, slips and trips account for a third of all injuries that occur each year. When you consider that before the Covid-19 pandemic, an estimated 99.4 million people passed through London Waterloo station annually – bringing with them dirt and water from the outside – it becomes clear that anti-slip products are essential for public safety.
A huge range of sectors, including education, healthcare, and the leisure industry, all use anti slip products to help reduce the risk of visitors to sites sustaining an injury. From tactile paving slabs to glass reinforced plastic (GRP) strips used on wooden decking; a multitude of products can be used in everyday life to help people say stay secure on their feet, even in bad weather.
Instead of specifying proper anti slip mechanisms, companies will sometimes use things such as plastic sheeting, chicken wire or other unsafe additions which can all do more harm than good. For example, chicken wire can get into the feet of pets or small children without proper padded shoes and can be extremely painful to walk on. If it tears, it also adds no additional safety measures and can cause more trips.
Similarly, in high-risk areas such as building sites, train stations and other areas where there is considerable danger to human life, a lack of anti-slip products can prove fatal in extreme conditions such as wet or icy weather, or even in very hot temperatures when tarmac can become slippery.
Anti-slip products are often made from glass reinforced plastic or GRP. This is a resin and fibreglass
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blend which is lightweight and can be made to suit a variety of applications, including those where certain chemicals are used, or there is a risk of high temperatures. GRP is known for its anti-slip properties and is becoming a firm favourite thanks to its wide applicability across the country.
In daily life we see anti slip products all around us. For example, the edges of stairs in public spaces that are open to all weathers are often covered with anti-slip nosings to help reduce the risk of slipping downstairs. And in national parks across the country, anti-slip decking strips and anti-slip walkways are used to help ensure the safety of walkers, and visitors to important areas across the country.
In areas such as marinas, where regular sea spray causes damp areas all year round, the longevity of GRP products and inability to rust, means that they are able to provide safety to visitors all year round.
Similarly, at train stations across the country where thousands of people can pass through every single day, anti-slip products are used at the edge of the platforms to ensure that people don't fall onto the tracks. And as an extra precaution, very busy stations often use GRP for the main platform itself, as it's an extremely lightweight material that can be repaired easily and doesn't require expert installation.
It's not just commercial applications where GRP can be used. For many people who own gardens with patios or areas of wooden decking, GRP anti-slip strips can be used to help ensure the safety of people in their own homes.
https://gripclad.co.uk www.tomorrowshs.com
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