Steel Platform and Grating Installation

Steel platforms and gratings provide permanent walkways and working areas in industrial and process buildings.
Open mesh gratings allow water, air, and light to pass through but create unique fall-through and trip hazards.
Gratings must be secured with grating clips to prevent lifting, displacement, or rotation under foot traffic.
Installation involves working at height on partially completed steelwork with open voids below.
Heavy grating panels require lifting by crane or manual handling by teams with cut-resistant gloves.
Sharp edges on cut grating and chequer plate cause serious lacerations during handling.
Handrails, kickplates, and toeboards must be installed on platform edges before the platform is used.
Bolt connections between platform supports and steelwork must be torqued to specification.
Temporary fall protection is needed for installers until the platform edge protection is complete.
Loading capacity of platforms must be displayed where storage or heavy equipment will be placed.

Fall hazards	Installing platforms at height with open voids below creates serious fall risks until edge protection is complete.
Grating displacement	Unsecured gratings lift, slide, or rotate under foot, causing workers to fall through to the level below.
Laceration injuries	Sharp grating edges and chequer plate cuts cause deep lacerations requiring medical treatment.

Do

Don't

Install temporary fall protection for workers until permanent handrails are fitted
Secure all grating panels with clips to prevent lifting or displacement under foot traffic
Wear cut-resistant gloves when handling steel grating and chequer plate panels
Use a crane or team handling for heavy grating panels — assess the weight before lifting
Torque all bolt connections between platform supports and steelwork to specification
Install handrails, kickplates, and toeboards on all open platform edges
Display the maximum loading capacity where platforms will support stored materials
Inspect completed platforms for loose gratings, missing clips, and edge protection gaps
Brief the installation team on the work sequence and fall protection requirements
Deburr or protect sharp cut edges on grating before handling and installation

DON'T walk on unsecured grating panels — they can lift and rotate under your weight
DON'T handle cut grating or chequer plate without cut-resistant gloves
DON'T use platforms for access until handrails and edge protection are fully installed
DON'T leave grating clips unfitted and rely on the panel weight to hold it in place
DON'T work at height on partially complete platforms without temporary fall protection
DON'T overload platforms beyond the displayed safe working load capacity
DON'T leave gaps in the grating layout where a person could fall through
DON'T store materials on platforms without checking the design allows for the load
DON'T use damaged, warped, or corroded grating panels — reject and replace them
DON'T leave sharp cut edges unprotected where workers walk or handle the panels

See also: Steel Erection Safety | Handrail and Edge Protection Standards

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