If you want to make a loading dock non-slip, there is usually a specific reason. Docks are often outdoors or directly at the door. That is where rain, snow, ice, leaves and oil meet inclines, edges and steel plates. At the same time, work is done under time pressure, often with pallet trucks or forklifts.
We help you secure loading docks, dock levellers and access points in a targeted way. Depending on the substrate, coatings, GRP sheets, anti-slip strips or mats may be suitable. Many solutions can be retrofitted. On this page you will find typical hazard points, suitable products and the most important selection criteria.
Typical hazard points at loading docks
- Sloping ramps and driveways in rain, snow and ice
- Dock levellers and dock plates made of smooth steel or chequer plate
- Dock edges with a risk of falling and poorly visible steps
- Stairs and ladders next to the dock
- Door areas with moisture and dirt carried in
- Load beds of trucks and trailers during loading and unloading
The combination of incline, moisture and load is particularly critical. Anyone pushing a pallet truck or pulling a pallet has little room to recover from a misstep. That is why it pays to view docks not as isolated spots but as a continuous walking route: from the yard across the ramp and the dock leveller into the hall. Weak points are often at the transitions between two materials. A walk-round in the rain usually shows quickly where water collects and where grip diminishes.
Making a loading dock non-slip: suitable solutions
The following solutions can be used individually or in combination. Many of them are suitable for retrofitting existing docks.
Anti-slip coating for outdoor loading docks
For outdoor concrete or asphalt ramps, slip-resistant floor coatings with aggregates are suitable. They create a grippy surface across the entire area. Clarify in advance whether the substrate is load-bearing, clean and dry enough for application.
GRP anti-slip sheets for ramps
GRP anti-slip sheets are corrosion-resistant and suitable for outdoor use. They are screwed or bonded onto existing surfaces. This makes them well suited to retrofitting a loading dock to make it non-slip. Yellow surfaces additionally improve visibility.
Slip-resistant surfaces for dock levellers
Dock levellers and dock plates are usually made of steel. Here, an anti-slip coating for chequer plate improves grip. Make sure that moving parts and hinges remain free.
Anti-slip strips for edges and transitions
Self-adhesive anti-slip strips and anti-slip tapes are suitable for dock edges, thresholds and smaller areas. Versions in warning colours make edges more visible.
Outdoor anti-slip mat
At doors and access points, an Outdoor anti-slip mat can be useful. It can be laid flexibly and moved if required.
Vehicle load beds
The load bed itself is also a hazard point. You can find advice on this under Slip protection for vehicle load beds.
Selection: what matters
Slip resistance: Outdoor areas and sloping surfaces generally need more slip resistance than dry indoor areas. Annex 2 of ASR A1.5 (German Technical Rule for Workplaces on floors) assigns slip resistance ratings from R9 to R13 to work areas, tested in accordance with DIN EN 16165:2023 (the German edition of European standard EN 16165) or previously German standard DIN 51130. ASR A1.5 contains requirements for floors in workplaces. Treat this information as guidance for your risk assessment.
Substrate: Concrete, asphalt, steel, chequer plate or timber require different products. Also check the condition: cracks, spalling and loose parts should be repaired beforehand.
Cleaning and winter maintenance: Docks are swept, cleared and sometimes gritted. The solution should be able to cope with this. You can find further advice in our winter safety solutions.
Fixing: Depending on the load, bonding, screwing or coating may be suitable. With forklift traffic, a fixed connection usually makes more sense than a loose mat.
How your enquiry works
- You send us photos, dimensions and details of the substrate of your dock.
- We suggest suitable products and clarify questions about loads, weather and fixing.
- You receive an individual quote, including for made-to-measure custom products on request.
Suitable products
For the walkable ramp and its edges, GRP sheets, stair nosings and coarse-grit anti-slip tapes are particularly suitable. For the door zone, where forklifts carry moisture in from outside, trafficable mats are an option. We clarify suitability for your dock, loads and fixing on request using the manufacturer’s documentation.
GRP anti-slip sheet PolyGrip Premium
Item no. DD-GRP-8000205-YE-M
Lightweight anti-slip sheet made of glass-reinforced polyester with corundum grit, for covering floors, ramps, walkways and chequer plate indoors and outdoors.
- GRP with aluminium oxide grit
- Non-conductive, splinter- and crack-free
GRP stair nosing PolyGrip Premium
Item no. DD-GRP-5000500-BK-M
GRP angle profile with embedded corundum grit for retrofitting stair edges on concrete, timber, stone or gratings. Colour-impregnated throughout, so wear is barely visible.
- Colour-impregnated GRP, fine/medium grit
- Available made to measure
Coarse anti-slip tape, black/yellow
Item no. DD-GRP-3000087-BY
Coarse-grit anti-slip tape for heavily used steps, platforms and surfaces. The black/yellow version also serves as a warning marking.
- Rolls 25/50/100 mm x 18 m
- Can be cut to size
- Non-conductive
Forklift mat Anchor Safe
Item no. DD-MA-4253
Robust rubber mat for doors where forklifts drive into the building from outside. It absorbs moisture and dirt from the wheels, reducing the risk of slipping in the hall.
- SBR rubber backing with moisture barrier
- 115 x 170 cm, 8.6 mm
- optionally with drainage border
Aluminium profile mat Top Clean OBJEKT (trafficable)
Item no. DD-FM-TOP-CLEAN-OBJEKT
Premium aluminium profile entrance mat for extreme loads from vehicles or forklifts, indoors and outdoors, with rib, rubber or brush inserts.
- can be driven on by vehicles and forklifts
- Rib, rubber and brush inserts can be combined
- indoors and outdoors
Entrance mat for forklift traffic Superdry Heavy Traffic
Item no. DD-CB-WHT010005
Absorbent carpet entrance mat with rubber backing for hall doors with forklift traffic. The waffle structure absorbs moisture and dirt from the wheels, reducing the risk of slipping and skidding on the hall floor.
- PP carpet with rubber backing, 10 mm
- Waffle pattern absorbs moisture from forklift wheels
- For straight-line forklift travel, indoors wet/dry
Frequently asked questions: making a loading dock non-slip
Which anti-slip coating is suitable for an outdoor loading dock?
For outdoor concrete and asphalt, there are coatings with aggregates. Which one is suitable depends on the substrate, the load and the weather conditions during application.
Can I retrofit a loading dock to make it non-slip?
Yes. GRP sheets, anti-slip strips and coatings can be applied to existing surfaces. A load-bearing, clean substrate is required.
What are GRP anti-slip sheets for ramps suitable for?
GRP sheets are corrosion-resistant and lightweight. They are suitable for outdoor ramps, walkways and platforms and are screwed or bonded.
How is a slip-resistant surface for dock levellers achieved?
On steel and chequer plate, special coatings or anti-slip strips help. It is important that the function of the dock leveller is not impaired.
Would you like to make your loading dock non-slip? Send us photos and dimensions of your dock. We will check which solution suits the substrate and use.