It’s true – the ice cleat and winter traction aid market is overwhelming. For over 40 years, we’ve done the research necessary to assist safety professionals in reducing winter slip and fall incidents. Here are some tips to help you simplify the options you have available in the marketplace. First, let’s review the two most important types of traction aids:
1. TRANSITIONAL TRACTION® - Can be worn both inside and outside without being removed.
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These are very unique, and there are currently just a few different technologies that fit this criteria – low-profile studs, gritted footwear and rotating spikes.
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TRANSITIONAL TRACTION is most beneficial for workers who constantly move from outdoors to indoors and don’t want the inconvenience of having to remove the more traditional, and “aggressive,” ice cleats.
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These can be put on at the beginning of a shift and kept on all day.
(This may eliminate all those complaints you hear about traditional ice cleats.) -
This category is also the safest to wear on steel, concrete, tile, epoxy floors, and other surfaces, and won’t cause slip hazards.
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They are also the safest traction aids to wear on catwalks and grated surfaces, and won’t cause trip hazards.
CLICK HERE to read about our most popular transitional traction aid!
2. WORKING TRACTION® - For working on ice and snow - outdoor use only.
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These traction aids are the most common in the marketplace because they have been around for many years.
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WORKING TRACTION is most beneficial for workers who are in icy parking lots, or for those who don’t mind constantly taking them on and off as needed.
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Easy on/off lightweight stretch devices, heel-only devices, spiked overshoes and ice-walking sandals all fall under this category.
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These traction aids are designed to be used in ice and snow only. If worn on hard surfaces, like steel, concrete, tile and epoxy floors, they will cause slip hazards.
CLICK HERE to read about one of our many aggressive traction aids.
I would guess that if your employees hate their current ice cleats or traction aids, chances are their devices fall in the “Aggressive Traction Aids” category. Simply switching to Transitional Traction Aids to reduce slips and falls on snow and ice would help keep them safer, more productive and happier when working, indoors and outdoors, during the winter months.
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Bill Coyne is the VP of Sales for Winter Walking. He has been helping organizations across a wide variety of business sectors prevent workplace slips and falls incidents in ice and snow for over 20 years. Email Bill at bill@winterwalking.com or visit www.winterwalking.com for additional information and resources.
