How to choose the right anti-slip solution for offshore and industry
Slip and fall accidents are among the most common incidents on offshore installations and industrial facilities. Preventing slip accidents is not a matter of discretion – it is a matter of requirements, consequences, and proper product selection.
Through our sister company Real Safety, we have entered into an agreement to supply anti-slip products from one of Europe's most experienced manufacturers of GRP anti-slip and composite solutions. The company has been supplying anti-slip protection to the offshore, maritime, industrial, and energy sectors since 2005 and are experts in anti-slip and GRP composites.
But which solution is suitable for where?
Why is anti-slip protection a requirement – not an option?
The Workplace Regulations are clear: floors and decks must be suitable for the work being performed. Offshore, NORSOK S-002 sets even stricter requirements for the friction properties of work surfaces. The standard states that all work areas must have safe access and that slippery floor surfaces should be avoided.
If you have a platform, a process plant, or an industrial building with steel surfaces, walkways, or stairs – anti-slip protection is required. Not optional.
Walkways and decks – large surfaces, great risk
Walkways, corridors, and open decks have large surfaces and high traffic. Here, horizontal slip risk is the greatest danger. An anti-slip mat or an anti-slip coating solves the problem – but the material must be able to withstand the environment in which it is used.
GRP walkway covers are prefabricated glass-fiber composite plates that are installed directly onto existing surfaces. GRP stands for Glass Reinforced Polyester – a material that combines high friction with extreme durability. Anti-slip protection for walkways with GRP coating offers several advantages:
- High friction even when the surface is wet, oily, or dirty
- Can be printed with text, pictograms, or color codes for visual safety
- Retrofitted onto existing anti-slip decks without major interventions
- Long service life with minimal maintenance
- Can be installed in all weather conditions, all year round
Stairs – where you need grip the most
Stairs are particularly exposed. One misstep is all it takes. Stair anti-slip is therefore one of the first things that should be in place during any upgrade.
Real Safety has several solutions for stairs:
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Step covers – complete GRP step covers with anti-slip coating. Available in black, yellow, blue, and hazard variants for visibility. The most complete solution for
stair anti-slip protection
- Step nosing – GRP nosings that are mounted on the step edge. Provides grip and visual marking where the foot lands
- Landing covers – anti-slip plates for landings and platforms between floors
All stair products are delivered ready-customized and are installed quickly onto existing steps.
Ladders – simple upgrade, great effect
Ladders are an overlooked risk. Original steps made of steel or aluminum become slippery with moisture, oil, or ice. Anti-slip protection for ladders is most easily achieved with ladder rung covers - ladder steps that are glued over the existing rung.
Real Safety supplies two variants:
- Half round – for round ladder rungs
- Channel (U-profile) – for square ladder rungs
Since the revision of DIN 18799 part 1 in 2019, round ladder rungs are considered a safety risk. Our square ladder rungs not only fit rectangular rungs - they also convert round rungs into a rectangular, anti-slip surface. This conversion provides an anti-slip class of R13, which meets the safety requirements in DIN 18799 part 1 for fixed ladders!
Both provide immediately improved grip and can be installed without disassembling the ladder.
Escape routes – visibility is survival
In an emergency, people must find their way out and Escape route markings from Real Safety won the award for the most innovative safety product in the offshore industry in 2017! 
Anti-slip flooring in industry – not just offshore
GRP anti-slip is not reserved for platforms. Anti-slip flooring in industry is equally relevant for power plants, workshops, food production, process plants, and warehouses. Walkway covers and step covers are used today on everything from nuclear power plants in Canada to BMX tracks in Hamburg.
The advantage of GRP composite over traditional solutions like anti-slip tape or paint with sand is durability. Tape wears out, loosens, and must be replaced. GRP coatings retain their friction throughout their entire service life.
Choose the right one – a quick overview
Large walkways and decks: GRP walkway covers or deck strips
Stairs: Step covers for full step coverage, step nosing for step edge only
Ladders: Ladder rung covers in half-round or U-profile
Escape routes: Escape route markings with photoluminescence
Grates and transitions: GRP gratings
Industrial flooring: Walkway covers and landing covers
Frequently asked questions
Can the products be mounted on existing surfaces? Yes. All products are designed for retrofit – they are mounted on top of what you already have, without demolition.
What is the difference between GRP coating and anti-slip tape? GRP is glass-reinforced polyester – a hard composite material with embedded anti-slip. Tape is a thin adhesive material that wears out faster and loosens in harsh environments. For anti-slip coatings in industry and offshore, GRP is the preferred choice.
Are there color options? Yes. Step covers and walkway covers are supplied in several colors, including hazard combinations for danger zones and red zones.
Which standards apply? Offshore, NORSOK S-002 sets requirements for friction properties. The Workplace Regulations apply to all permanent and temporary workplaces in Norway.
Are the products certified? Real Safety is ISO 9001 certified through Bureau Veritas.
Get in touch
We help you choose the right anti-slip mat, stair step, ladder rung, stair nosing, or walkway covering for your installation, whether it is a platform on the Norwegian continental shelf or an anti-slip industrial floor.
See the entire selection at realmarine.no/pages/realsafety
Call us at 51 94 47 00 or send an email to post@realmarine.no.
