Open grating stairs are often specified with serrations, punched patterns, or tread undulations and sold as ‘anti-slip.’ In real operating conditions – wet, oily, muddy, icy, or simply worn – that built-in traction can fall short. in this blog, we try to explain why, cite independent sources, and show how Titan Anti-Slip Clips offer a practical, low-cost retrofit for facilities across the USA and Canada.
Open grating stairs are everywhere – platforms, mezzanines, access towers, process areas, and outdoor access routes. Many are manufactured with serrations, punched/perforated profiles, or tread undulations intended to improve grip. But ‘anti-slip’ is rarely absolute. Performance depends on contamination, footwear, maintenance, and wear – and the places where people slip are often the places that degrade first.
A useful way to frame the issue is that slip resistance varies with conditions. In guidance on slip resistance, OSHA notes that slip resistance can vary depending on surface conditions and employee footwear.¹ That means a surface that behaves acceptably when clean and dry can become hazardous when wet or contaminated.
Independent research has tested the slip potential of common grated metal walking and working surfaces under dry and contaminated conditions. A NIOSH/CDC study evaluated multiple grating types and reported increased slip risk when contaminated, especially at steeper inclines.² The CDC summary of the work highlights that serrated bar and perforated grating showed high slip counts under certain contaminated test conditions and notes caution for use where water, ice, or grease are common.³
"Companies should be discouraged from using perforated and serrated bar gratings in any areas where ice, water, or grease are common."²
Most stair incidents begin as a micro-slip at initial contact – often when descending and the shoe loads the front edge of the tread. If the leading edge is worn, polished, clogged with debris, or simply not aggressive enough, traction can drop at the exact moment it is needed. That is why edge-focused traction upgrades can be highly effective: they target the most common failure point rather than relying on an overall tread pattern.
Incident reports do not always say “this grating was marketed as anti-slip,” but multiple credible sources show that grating and stair systems can still be associated with serious outcomes when conditions degrade, visibility is poor, or components are worn or unsecured:
When full stair replacement is not realistic – due to cost, downtime, or structural constraints – retrofitting is often the fastest path to risk reduction. Titan Anti-Slip Clips are designed to upgrade open grating stairs by adding a dedicated high-grip surface where slips often start: the leading edge. This allows facilities to improve traction while keeping the existing grating and stair structure in place.
Titan Anti-Slip Clips are typically adopted because they are:
If your environment includes any of the following, the slip performance of ‘anti-slip’ grating can drop faster than expected:
Slip resistance is conditional. OSHA notes it can vary with conditions and footwear.¹ NIOSH/CDC research indicates that some common grating types can show higher slip risk in contaminated environments.²¯³ Combined with real-world incident reporting where grating and stairs are involved when conditions or visibility degrade,⁴¯⁵ it is a sensible step to verify performance in your operating conditions and upgrade intelligently where needed. Titan Anti-Slip Clips provide a practical, low-cost retrofit to improve traction on existing open grating stairs across the USA and Canada.
Click each source link below to open the citation in your browser.
The Future of Anti-Slip Flooring: Innovations in 2025 and Beyond Workplace safety is evolving, and anti-slip flooring technology is at the forefront
The Impact of Climate Change on Workplace Safety Climate change is increasing the frequency and severity of extreme weather events,
Sustainable Anti-Slip Solutions Workplace safety is a top priority for businesses, and anti-slip solutions play a crucial role in preventing
