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Why “Anti-Slip” Grating Stairs Still Cause Accidents
When ‘Anti-Slip’ Open Grating Isn’t Enough: Why Facilities Upgrade with Titan Anti-Slip Clips Open grating stairs are often specified with
February 9, 2026
When you’re responsible for safety on open-grid grating—whether that’s topside on a vessel, inside an engine room, or across an offshore platform—slip resistance is only half the story. The other half is confidence: confidence the product has been assessed against recognized rules and can be specified on safety-critical projects without guesswork.
That’s why we’re pleased to share that Titan Safety’s Yellow Anti-Slip Clips (Steel) – Model TSU25 have received an American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) Product Design Assessment (PDA): Certificate No. 25-0450102-PDA, effective 08-Jan-2026 through 07-Jan-2031 (Tier 2 – PDA Issued).
ABS Global Engineering issued a Product Design Assessment (PDA) for the Metal Anti-Slip Clip – Model TSU25 under Work Order WO0450102.
A PDA is an assessment of the design plans and data to determine the degree of compliance with applicable rules/standards. It’s important to be clear about scope:
The PDA is not a waiver of any unit certification or classification procedures required by ABS rules for products installed on ABS-classed vessels/facilities. The certificate remains valid until 07-Jan-2031, or earlier if the applicable rules/standards change or a design modification requires reassessment.
In practical terms: the TSU25 design has been assessed by ABS, and the certificate provides structured acceptance parameters for intended use—particularly valuable for marine and offshore environments where compliance matters.
Slips and falls on grating are a constant operational risk—especially in wet, oily, dusty, or high-traffic areas. TSU25 clips are designed to improve traction on open-grid metal grating while maintaining a durable, industrial installation.
ABS specifically lists the intended service as marine and offshore applications, including use on:
fixed platforms and walkways
stairways and fixed ladders
ship topside and engine rooms
offshore platforms, drilling rigs, military ships
And the scope extends well beyond marine—covering industrial sites such as oil & gas refineries, chemical plants, cement and steel mills, mines and quarries, food & beverage production, terminals, airports, ports, paper/lumber mills, glass manufacturing, and general manufacturing.
If you manage EHS or maintenance in any of those environments, the PDA gives you a stronger compliance foundation when specifying slip-resistant solutions.
The ABS design assessment describes the TSU25 as a:
Galvanized steel metal anti-slip clip
Powder-coated in safety yellow paint
Designed for open grid metal grating
That combination is intentional:
The PDA references ABS classification requirements for both marine vessels and offshore units, including:
Rules for Conditions of Classification, 2025 Marine Vessels Rules (including referenced sections noted on the certificate)
Rules for Conditions of Classification – Offshore Units, 2025 Offshore Units Rules (including referenced sections noted on the certificate) It also lists a national standard used in the assessment documentation:
Australian Standard AS 1657:2018 – Fixed platforms, walkways, stairways and ladders (design, construction and installation)
This is helpful for global operators and EPCs who work across multiple regulatory regimes and want traceable alignment to recognized rules.
ABS includes several practical conditions and restrictions that specifiers and installers should keep in mind:
Also, ABS notes that rules and standards can change and should be monitored to remain compliant—an important reminder for long-life assets and multi-year construction programs.
As part of the PDA correspondence, ABS acknowledges the PDA request form warranty that the materials used are free from asbestos, and notes a manufacturer declaration regarding asbestos control/lack of asbestos in the product.
For safety-led procurement teams, that kind of documented declaration helps support vendor qualification and internal compliance processes.
If you’re operating on—or supplying into—marine and offshore projects where ABS involvement is part of the compliance landscape, the TSU25 PDA provides:
documented design assessment by ABS
clear intended-service language for high-risk environments
a defined validity period (through Jan 2031, subject to rules updates or design changes)
It’s a practical step forward for clients who need both traction and traceability.
Titan Safety’s TSU25 Yellow Anti-Slip Clips (Steel) are engineered for open-grid grating environments where slips are not acceptable and visibility matters.
If you’d like help selecting the right clip coverage for your grating type, stair geometry, or facility risk zones, contact Titan Safety and request the TSU25 spec sheet referenced in the ABS documentation.
When ‘Anti-Slip’ Open Grating Isn’t Enough: Why Facilities Upgrade with Titan Anti-Slip Clips Open grating stairs are often specified with
Slip incidents in cement plants rarely come from a single cause. They’re usually the result of abrasive dust + moisture
When you’re responsible for safety on open-grid grating—whether that’s topside on a vessel, inside an engine room, or across an