Guard Against Trips and Falls by Making Your Concrete Surfaces as Safe as Possible
An employee or client being injured at the workplace is one of the nightmares that keeps business managers awake at night. One way to help prevent trips and falls is to repair concrete surfaces as flaws appear, so you can keep everyone safe around your business premises. Here are some ways to make sure that your staff and clients can walk around the concrete floors without tripping over cracks.
Don't Lay Paving Near Expanding Trees
Many people make the error of designing paving routes to suit their convenience, rather than the demands of nature. When paving is laid, the ground may seem flat and the path could look flawless. However, if you lay it over the path of growing tree roots, eventually the stones will start to rise or cracks will appear. Never underestimate the power of trees. They mercilessly attack any obstacles they encounter. Make sure your paths are at least 5 metres away from large trees.
Install Appropriate Concrete Joints During Construction
When laying concrete surfaces, you must also take into account the expansion and contraction of the material. Properly laid courtyards, stairs or paths incorporate expansion joints at regular intervals. These joints allow the concrete to expand in the heat or contract as it cools. Without them, cracks will start to appear very soon after the surface is installed, as concrete naturally contracts slightly soon after it is laid. For larger surfaces, these joints need to run horizontally and vertically, so that forces can be minimised in both directions.
Take a Proactive Approach to Fixing Concrete Steps and Paths
When you see a crack in your concrete, make fixing it a priority. Concrete surfaces can decay surprisingly rapidly, turning a perfectly usable flight of stairs into a health hazard. However, it's easy to restore damaged surfaces to working order by calling in concrete repair specialists.
In fact, they will do more than just fill in holes or cracks. They can also make wholesale recommendations regarding commercial industrial maintenance. They can check concrete surfaces across an entire office or factory, assessing walls, stairs and paths for weaknesses. The results could allow you to save money on future maintenance costs by dealing with problems before they become serious.
If you plan any concrete surfaces meticulously and take immediate action to bring in concrete repair experts when cracks are detected, you should be able to limit the risk of slips and trips. That way everyone who uses your premises can remain safe, from the most important clients to factory cleaners.
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