What Are Warehouse Mobile Steps?
Warehouse mobile steps play an absolutely important role in ensuring the well-being of workers and efficient operations within any facility that needs its employees to regularly work or perform tasks at height.
These mobile steps are specifically designed to meet the unique demands of warehouse environments, where accessing heights safely is often required. They are typically constructed from sturdy materials such as aluminium or steel, providing stability and durability. Warehouse safety steps come in various designs, including wheel along, platform ladders, and extension ladders, each tailored to specific tasks and heights. Features such as non-slip steps, handrails, and safety gates enhance stability and prevent falls.
Regular inspection and maintenance of these mobile steps are essential to identify any defects or wear and tear, ensuring they remain safe for use. Proper training on ladder usage and safety protocols is also critical to minimize risks and promote a secure working environment in warehouses and all operations that use them.
If you would like to read more about working from height we have other articles specifically on this, or you can visit the HSE website for specific information.
Why Should I Use Warehouse Mobile Steps?
You may be wondering: why should I invest in warehouse or industrial mobile steps for my business?
Below we will outline the reasons why these types of ladders and steps are essential for not only your workplace, but all industries up and down the country.
Affordable
Our range of warehouse mobile steps come in all shapes and sizes to suit any task at hand. They can be very affordable from the basic options which will still perform the task at hand compared to the more expensive models. This makes them a great quick fix solution if you are facing hazards and issues that need to be addressed in a hurry.
Most people when they think of these industrial mobile steps imagine very large intricate and complex pieces of equipment, however they are in fact fairly basic in terms of a design that is just refined over the years. This makes some of them easy to produce at a lower cost bracket.
Cost Effective
When we talk cost effective, there is a very simple question to ask that will make it hit home about why warehouse mobile steps are a no brainer and cost effective item.
What would it cost to your business if an employee injured themselves working from height without the proper equipment?
The answer is much more than the investment into the correct mobile steps.
It is not only the prevention of lost time at work. Our warehouse mobile steps allow work to be done in an efficient manner, usually completed by one or two people when normally it would have taken more labour to finish. The mobile nature of these also add to the cost effectiveness allowing them to be deployed and transported very easily to where is needed next.
All of these points and more provide an increase in revenue for any business, for a small initial outlay upfront. Its a sound investment that is proven across all industries.
Safety
This is the single most important point any business should be considering. Warehouse mobile steps are designed for safety first and foremost. They quite simply save on injuries, accidents, lost time and also lives.
Working from height is one of the leading causes of workplace injuries!
Having a safe environment contributes towards workplace staff morale, trust in the business, reduced costs, and increased revenue.
Efficiency
Efficiency across different industries is measured in all sorts of ways. One thing everyone can agree on as a measure is labour effectiveness. What this means is the amount of work achieved per person.
Warehouse mobile steps by design allow a single person to not only lift and move the amount of work traditionally done by two or three people, but also at a quicker pace.
Mobile safety steps are designed to be moved along by the operator while their tasks are being completed, such as maintenance within a large facility, or warehouse picking and put away tasks. This saves time from retrieving other ladder options from a store.
What Do I Need To Know About Warehouse Mobile Steps?
One thing we are passionate about here at HSE Store, is giving as much information we can so that you can make the best decision from the start. There is nothing worse than making a purchase and realising what you bought is the wrong model, or the wrong type for the application and task at hand.
Below we will outline all the things you should be considering when looking through our range of warehouse & industrial mobile safety steps for your business.
Load Capacities
Load capacity should be one of the first things to consider when purchasing a set of warehouse mobile steps.
Firstly you need to consider the tasks that are needed to be performed, and what the most usual weights are being transported along with the operators who will use it.
Our mobile safety steps are all very highly rated in terms of load rating, this gives you peace of mind when ordering with us as no matter which you choose, they will be suited for the task. This is unlike other company that can stock cheap imports which dont stand the test of time, or buckle under normal weight loads.
Pay attention to our product descriptions for the load ratings which are clearly displayed, and for added security we have extra heavy duty options which are incredibly strong and long lasting.
Mobile Step Material
The material of the mobile steps is important to consider especially so with the industry your business operates in.
For example if you operate in the food and drink sector, pharmaceutical drugs, chemicals and likewise, you will more than likely be limited to choosing only stainless steel options due to their high corrosion resistance and hygienic properties. We have stainless options available for this.
Aluminium is also an option due to its lightweight nature and strength, it also has a very rust resistant nature when being stored for a long time.
Steel is the most long lasting, and strongest of all the materials you will find on the market. These are by far our most common choice and most supplied. Supplied with a long lasting and durable finish here at HSE Store, coupled with hand made in Britain, you can be sure of the quality and workmanship on offer.
Mobile Step Tread Types
- Ribbed Rubber Tread
Ribbed rubber options are our most commonly used and cost effective option. This is not to say they are low quality, quite the opposite, as it all depends on your application. Perfect for most general uses. - Anti Slip Tread
As the name suggests, this type of tread is ideal for reducing slips, trips and falls. With these added safety measures, its particular suited to high use and faced paced facilities. - GRP Tread
Glass reinforced plastic. This is for extra safety and anti slip applications. Provides exceptional slip resistance in wet, oily and icy conditions both internally and externally at locations where electricity, chemical and corrosive substances, or heavy loads are regularly near. - Punched Steel Tread
These are our maintenance free option, featuring a punched design to reduce slips, trips and fall hazards. Super easy to clean and durable. - Aluminium Tread
Hard wearing and long lasting, these have crosshatch style anti slip features designed into the tread surface. - Expamet Tread
Mesh tread style construction, these are durable and long lasting. Particularly suited to outdoor tasks and use, or messy indoor areas, due to their design which is easy to keep them debris free.
Mobility Types
The purpose of warehouse mobile steps is also to be easily mobile and move along with the operator, or where is needed quickly and easily.
There are usually three options you can find to choose from:
- Tilt & Wheel Along
These are a style where when in use it acts as a static ladder and unable to move. The operator must lift one side of the mobile steps and while tilting, push the steps to where is needed next. These are usually only on small and very light steps. - Pressure Spring Loaded Steps
These are a style that have no need for hand anchorage. This is a safety feature that stops the safety steps from moving when weight is applied, such as a the operator ascending. When there is no weight applied they roll along usually on castors or tilt feature. - Spring Loaded Castors
This is what you will find on the majority of our large warehouse safety steps. These feature larger castors that can hold the weight of the steps, and feature hand anchorage systems to stop the steps in its tracks before an operator ascended. It forced the castors to retract on a spring, causing them to be immobilised.
Platform Sizes
Depending on the application and the size of the mobile steps chosen, platform sizes can also vary.
We have steps that are suitable for a quick step up for a single person, to those that will fit two person at once, or larger for long term tasks such as being used next to a platform to truck.
Safety Devices
- Spring Loaded Steps
As mentioned above in our mobility section, these keep the safety steps immobile while there is an operator or enough weight applied - Total Stop Castors
Usually found on the picking trolley warehouse steps, these allow the rolling castors to be in ‘brake’ mode, keeping them from moving. - Spring Loaded Castors
The most common on nearly all of our warehouse safety steps, these work in tandem with the hand anchorage, or operator weight to allow the castors to retract on a spring, making the steps safe to use and immobile. - Hand Anchorage
This retracts the castors on our safety steps, keeping the frame of the warehouse ladders in constant contract with the floor. - Anti Ascend Features
A fantastic feature for busy warehouses, it stops operators from bypassing the hand anchorage feature. This is a device which makes the steps fully blocked from ascending until the hand anchorage has been applied, and only then will retract to allow safe operation. - Safety Chains
Featured on our larger platform steps, these are for where operators will use the warehouse steps to gain access to other platforms or trucks. The safety chain stops and prevents falls, but can be removed when needed for access.
What Type Of Warehouse Mobile Steps Are Available?
Here at HSE Store we aim to provide only the very best on the market, long term durability and the stand out solution for any application.
Below we will show the different types of industrial mobile steps, explain their uses and give an example of what we offer.
Made from strong steel and a long lasting durable hand built attention to detail, our smaller step range is the affordable option for quick and lower height tasks.
These come in a wide range of load capabilities, here at HSE Store we only supply the best the industry has to offer, all of ours have high capacities of load and will cope almost any task.
These can be anything from a single step, to picking trolleys, suitable for any low level tasks.
Our wheel along mobile steps are perfect for those very fast paced warehouses with light work, able to be quickly rolled around a factory floor and into place instantly.
All made of strong construction, with durability in mind.
For anyone that has worked in warehousing, they will know the best use of space is narrow aisles, which maximises efficiency of storage.
The problems this causes and be working practices. To alleviate this issue, we have available safety steps that can range all the way up to 15 treads or more, combined with a narrow footprint to fit down these aisles.
While also being capable of large load ratings, we even have offering with specific stabilisers for ultra security in mind.
All of these steps feature wrap around style platforms for the best security in mind.
The most common option that businesses who need safety steps will find useful and the right choice. These are also the most cost efficient due to their most general purpose nature.
Ranging in height from just 2 or 3 treads, to over 15 treads in design. These are truly the most versatile option, with many safety features such as hand anchorages, anti ascend, safety chains, and more.
For when a standard warehouse mobile step just isn’t enough, such as in engineering workshops and stores, or workplaces where operators wear heavy PPE gear. Or maybe you have maintenance tasks that need lots of tools and gear to be carried to the task at height.
These are over engineered, and with a high load rating, some are even tested to over the stated load capacity.
Quite simply these will be a one time purchase for many years to come.
If you need to accommodate more than one person to a task at height, or need to carry larger items with ease up and down the steps, this is the solution for you.
Some have extra wide treads for easy ascent / descent while holding or carrying products, while others are designed specifically to be used as a working platform against HGV flatbeds and more.
FAQ's
What Are The Ladders Used In Warehouses?
- Small Step ups
- Wheel Along Mobile Steps
- Narrow Aisle Mobile Steps
- Warehouse Mobile Steps
- Heavy Duty Mobile Steps
- Large Platform Mobile Steps
What Are Other Names For Warehouse Mobile steps?
- Safety Steps
- Mobile Steps
- Mobile Safety Steps
- Warehouse Ladders
- Industrial Ladders
- Industrial Safety Steps
- Airport Steps
- Airport Ladders
What Tread Types Are Available?
- Ribbed Rubber Tread
- Anti Slip Tread
- GRP Tread
- Punched Steel Tread
- Aluminium Tread
- Expamet Tread
When Do I Use Warehouse Steps?
Warehouse mobile steps should be used any time working from height is needed. These are devices designed for you and your employees safety in mind, and to make the job easier.
Do You Push Or Pull Wheel Along Steps?
Always push the steps. You should be able to clearly see the way ahead of you at all times, taking note and consideration of any potential hazards in your way.
What Injuries Can Happen From Working At Height?
All sorts of injuries can happen, but something to be aware of is the most common workplace death, is due to falls from height.
Source: HSE
Where Can I Buy Warehouse Mobile Steps?
Right here at HSE Store!
We stock a very wide range of safety steps suitable for almost any need you can imagine. All of ours are hand made in Britain and built to last.
What Are Mobile Steps Made From?
Usually steel, aluminium or stainless steel.
Each has its own specific use, and detailed above in this article you should decide which is best for you based on your industry and application or task at hand.
Final Thoughts
We hope that you enjoyed reading our guide and found it very engaging while also give you something to think about very carefully from a health and safety point of view and a revenue increasing investment for your business.
We only supply the best top quality safety access equipment here at HSE Store that is manufactured right here in Britain by Steptek.
You can view the entire range of our industrial mobile steps by clicking below.
