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4 Common Causes of Grating Failure & How to Prevent Them
If designed and manufactured incorrectly, steel grating will fail over time. Learn more about the common causes of failure and how to prevent it.
Nov 17, 2025
Slip-and-fall incidents aren’t uncommon in manufacturing facilities. Learn how custom grating can help you create safer walkways.
Every year, OSHA releases a report of the Top 10 citations for that year, and for several consecutive years, fall protection has been listed in the top 10. One way businesses can help create a safer environment for their employees (as required by OSHA) and reduce fall protection violations is to use custom grating to design safer walkways.
Custom grating can be manufactured from a variety of materials, including carbon steel, which offers high strength and helps prevent catastrophic failures that can result in injuries and fatalities.
Bar spacing should be optimized for both functionality and safety. If the openings are too large, tools and debris can fall through and strike people below, or catch the heels of shoes and cause trips and falls. However, if the openings are too small, it can impact drainage and ventilation, so balance is always essential.
Treatments like serrated edges or hot-dip galvanized finishes are crucial in preventing slip-and-fall incidents because they provide traction when walkways are wet or contaminated with oils, as is common in industrial environments.
Proper edge details ensure the grating fits securely in its frame without gaps that could cause hazards or allow the grating to shift. It also helps prevent lacerations during maintenance and normal operational use.
Custom grating is essential for all manufacturing facilities, especially those with elevated walkways. If your facility needs an upgrade, Laurel Custom Grating can help you design cost-effective solutions that address your unique environmental hazards.
Visit our website to learn more about our solutions, or contact us today to get started with a project analysis.
If designed and manufactured incorrectly, steel grating will fail over time. Learn more about the common causes of failure and how to prevent it.
Grating is a necessary component of every facility, improving safety and access, providing drainage and ventilation, and managing debris.
Grating load tables can be a little confusing, but they provide critical data. Learn more about how to read these tables and calculate potential load.
We’re ready to fulfill your manufacturing needs. Take the next step to work with Laurel Custom Grating as your source for heavy-duty grating solutions.