Reach New Heights with Mobile Access Platforms and Stair Systems for Trailers

Oil is a slippery substance, which makes it an excellent lubricant. Its molecular structure allows it to reduce friction between surfaces. Great for shafts and gears, but not so great when oil leaks or spills at a worksite.

There are many other slip-and-fall hazards in the complex stream of oil and gas operations. Workers are exposed to harsh or wet weather and the need to work at height, notably when loading and unloading trailers and railcars and performing inspections and maintenance of vehicles and large or elevated equipment.

Flatbed trailers or railcars transport rig and derrick equipment, hydraulic fracturing sand and chemicals, and crude oil tanks in the exploration and drilling sector. In the transportation and storage sector, they move crude and refined products, haul pipeline sections for construction, and transfer natural gas liquids (NGLs). Trailers and railcars also deliver fuels, feedstocks, lubricants, and petrochemicals to refining and distribution centers.

Elevated work platforms for trailers and railcars.

Simple in their modular design and sophisticated with their safety attributes, work access platforms provide versatile solutions for working at height, especially outdoors. They feature anodized aluminum or glass-reinforced nylon treads that are slip-resistant and self-draining to prevent the accumulation of fluids or moisture.

The treads are set in robust, durable, and corrosion-resistant aluminum or galvanized steel frames to form platform steps and decks for optimum stability. OSHA-compliant guardrails offer added fall protection and allow workers to complete their tasks with the utmost freedom of movement and confidence.

Application and site-specific types of platforms include:

• Mobile Work Platforms – Ideal for dynamic oil and gas operations where loading and unloading locations vary, mobile platforms are equipped with heavy-duty locking casters for ease of deployment and repositioning.
• Fixed Access Platforms – Designed for permanent installation where frequent access is required, fixed (static) platforms are ideal for maintenance, inspections, and designated loading/unloading zones.
• Adjustable Work Platforms – When and where flexibility is needed, adjustable work platforms provide a single platform that enables workers to access trailers or railcars of varying heights. They are fabricated from lightweight, high-strength structural-grade aluminum 6061 and inspected by a certified welding inspector.
• Custom-Engineered Platforms – If standard platforms do not meet the unique requirements of an oil and gas worksite, a customized, engineered platform can offer tailored solutions to meet specific operational needs, such as non-standard trailer and railcar dimensions or unusual space constraints.

Avoid slip-ups with stair and walkway solutions.

Stairs and stepovers allow workers to navigate over pipes, hoses, cables, tools, and equipment without compromising safety. They feature anodized aluminum or glass-reinforced nylon treads that are self-draining, non-bounce, omnidirectional, and slip-resistant. Frames are available in aluminum or galvanized steel for strength, durability, and corrosion resistance. Several types of stair systems are available.

• Fixed Steps – Fixed steps are permanent stair systems installed where regular, stable access is required. Guardrails can be added for enhanced OSHA-compliant fall protection.
• Stepovers – simple, specialized stairs to provide access over obstacles such as pipes or cables.
• Crossover Bridge or Platforms – modular stairs and platform systems with compliant guardrails that allow workers to navigate over conveyors, pipelines, or other large obstructions. They are ideal for multiple-level and high-traffic areas without interfering with ongoing operations. They can also be used for rooftop safety for workers who inspect and maintain building services equipment.
• Mobile Stairs – equipped with heavy-duty locking casters, enabling workers to access different areas as needed. They are ideal where fixed structures are not feasible or frequent elevated access to multiple work areas is required.
• Custom Stair Systems – Engineered stair systems address site-specific challenges by offering configurations tailored to unique facility layouts or specialized tasks. They can meet custom height, width, load-bearing, and other requirements.

How can we help you?

Safety is a top priority in the oil and gas industry, where stringent regulations govern workplace conditions. Access platforms and stair systems provide regulatory compliance by minimizing fall hazards. They offer stable footing and freedom of movement for efficient loading and unloading operations, inspections, and maintenance.

If you are a production or safety manager in upstream, midstream, or downstream oil and gas operations, FlexDecks can help. Our comprehensive services include hazard assessments, design and consultation, engineering, manufacturing, installation, and follow-up inspections and maintenance. Contact us for an evaluation of your facility’s safety needs.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why are oil and gas worksites especially prone to slip and fall hazards?
A: Oil spills reduce friction and create slippery surfaces, and combined with harsh weather and frequent work at height during loading, unloading, and equipment inspection, the risk of slips and falls increases.

Q: What makes FlexDecks platform treads suitable for outdoor oil and gas use?
A: Treads are slip-resistant and self-draining to prevent fluid or moisture buildup, set in corrosion-resistant aluminum or galvanized steel frames for durability.

Q: When is a mobile work platform the better choice over a fixed one?
A: Mobile platforms suit dynamic operations where loading and unloading locations vary, since they use heavy-duty locking casters for easy repositioning.

Q: What is the purpose of crossover bridges and platforms in oil and gas facilities?
A: They let workers navigate over conveyors, pipelines, or other large obstructions safely, and are useful in multi-level, high-traffic areas as well as for rooftop safety.