Increasing Plant Safety with GRP Flooring and Railing

The Importance of Plant Safety

According to reports, the total price of workplace injuries and illnesses cost the nation around £21.6 billion each year. Therefore, in order to keep workers safe and protect the company from lawsuits, it is imperative to create a safe workplace. In addition to staggering costs, a safe workplace also increases productivity and boosts employee morale. Preventative care is the best solution for both the company and the employees.

Slip Resistant Surfaces

About 32% of non-fatal workplace injuries (179,520 people) in the UK are because of slips and falls on the same level. Because the leading cause of slips and falls is unsafe, unclean floors, the best way to resolve this issue is to find an alternative flooring material that is easy to clean and slip resistant.

Whether it is a meniscus or grit top, Glass Reinforced Plastic (GRP) grating products can significantly reduce the risk of injury in the workplace. The slip resistant surface of GRP makes for a much safer walking surface for workers. In addition to the slip resistant surface of GRP grating, GRP products such as guardrails and handrails can prevent workers from falling.

Ergonomic

GRP products are more ergonomical than comparable metal and wood products. GRP grating naturally bends in a way that is beneficial to workers' joints. Ergonomic equipment allows the worker to stay focused on tasks without distraction or interruption, which is completely common when tasks are accomplished by off-balance, encumbered, or awkward operators. Overuse injuries lead to decreased productivity, defective products, lost workdays, poor morale, and increased employer medical and compensation costs. By utilising preventative care, a company will save money.

Lightweight

A leading cause of work site injuries is overexertion. Overexertion is caused by a variety of factors including heavy lifting. The lightweight propertiesof GRP products reduces the risk of heavy lifting injuries.

Repetitive heavy lifting can also lead to musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). The annual cost of MSDs can be very expensive. Substituting a substantially lighter product, GRP, for the traditional heavy products, steel, will significantly reduce the amount of MSD claims.

Corrosion Resistant

The corrosion resistant properties of fibreglass products considerably reduce the threat of workplace injury. GRP products have been proven to endure industrial conditions for a significant amount of time without the effects of corrosion. Because GRP products do not corrode the way similar wood and metal products do, they maintain their slip resistant surface and load carrying capability, unlike any other product on the market.

Low Maintenance

Improper maintenance plays a key role in workplace accidents. Too often, the necessary maintenance is not conducted and leads to injury due to failing parts.

GRP products significantly reduce this risk. GRP will not rust or rot. It does not need to be sandblasted, scraped, or painted like substitute materials, and it is very easy to clean. Because GRP requires very little maintenance, workers can safely perform their jobs without risk of flooring failure and injury.

Non Conductive

A unique benefit of GRP products over metal products is that GRP is not conductive. This factor greatly decreases the risk of injury and electrical shock. GRP grating and other products can be used in a variety of applications where steel grating cannot be used safely.