Manufacturing companies and distribution networks rely on steel, but as producers across industries have faced supply chain instability, fluctuating costs, and more, their relationship with steel—whether for machinery or rooftop steel guardrail system solutions—is up for debate.
Why? The reason is that flattened steel production is continuing to be a problem, forcing everyone from product team leaders to safety managers to grapple with the next steps for their production strategies and safety precautions.
However, even if you have recently encountered questions about declining output, it's important to understand why steel is still the best option for your roof fall protection system implementations.
Predicting the future production and availability of steel on the global market requires analyzing multiple factors. However, there are several strong indicators that the steel production decline will continue to have ramifications for the rest of the year:
The downward growth trend is sharp in the European markets: 2024 has seen significant decreases in production, with 2024 Q1 seeing -3.1% growth. This should lead to a total market slump with growth of 1.4% instead of the previously projected 3.2%.
Negative effects on the markets relying on steel for production: The European steel market already saw a -1% downward shift in steel-using sectors, and it's recently been revised to -1.6%.
2025 will continue to be slow: Experts currently anticipate the European steel market to see 4.1% instead of 5.6%.
But why is this turbulence happening? Some of it is due to slow demand, with the construction industry still struggling to fully recover from the pandemic and demand seeing uncertain cycles. Production is also slow due to increased regulations affecting China, the continued turbulence from Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and general inflation throughout manufacturing.
However, none of this decline is because steel is being replaced by other alloys. Steel continues to be one of the strongest and relatively cost-effective materials on the market for any application where long-term structural integrity, consistent performance, and compliance with safety standards are a priority, including your roof fall protection system.
For safety managers within a manufacturing organization, market forces indirectly shape your project reach and budget. But the stainless steel market directly affects what you can do to keep your worksites compliant and your employees safer. Keep these core principles in mind to guide your purchase decisions, policy plans, and suggestions for future improvements.
Whenever there's poor market performance, there are budget cuts. It can be tempting to put additional safety purchases like rooftop railings and steel guardrails on the back burner, either to work on more ostensibly profit-focused ventures first or to wait out the storm. But that's not the best strategy in this situation. Instead, expedite purchases so you can take advantage of already available goods, pricing, and quotes from your trusted vendors. Purchasing now means you get pricing already established in your current contracts and can make essential purchases before prices respond to future potential losses.
Another common strategy for dealing with smaller budgets and financial pressure is to look for cost-efficient substitutes. This is an understandable train of thought, but you should always seek solutions like steel guardrails—do not compromise on quality to save money in the short term. OSHA or CCOHS guidelines and local safety regulations often demand either steel explicitly or material characteristics that steel can uniquely satisfy.
Fall protection systems and guardrails, for example, need to be able to support 200 pounds and act as a solid barrier, support, or, in slippery or elevated situations, another point of connection. Other materials may not be able to easily provide the strength, durability, and construction requirements. Even where it does, the administrative burden of researching alternatives, modifying policies to account for acceptable alternatives, and finding rooftop railings that integrate with existing hardware can catch up with or even surpass the cost differentials.
However, one strategic cost-saving measure you can use is being exceedingly precise when determining which purchases should be part of your fall prevention measures and OSHA compliance initiatives. Audit your facilities to find:
Any gaps in your guardrails and fall prevention hardware around stairs, ladders, mezzanine, elevated equipment or machinery, and loading dock doors
Places where visual barriers can fulfill your obligations, so you can save your budget for the most important guardrail locations
Anticipate future expenses and challenges
Remember, guardrails and safety gates are an important part of the puzzle, but elements like education, fall prevention harnesses, and visual indicators need to be part of your overall strategy.
It's not enough to have fall prevention guardrails and safety swing gates—they need to be OSHA-compliant solutions. OSHA establishes strict guidelines regarding the height, weight management capabilities, features, and other material considerations of safety installations. Most vendors that provide OSHA-compliant rooftop steel guardrail system products focus on steel products and don't offer substitutions. That means when your company needs roof fall protection system solutions, you also can't accept substitutions.
At BlueWater by Tractel, we develop high-quality rooftop steel guardrail system products, including roof fall protection system options and steel guardrails. We help companies invest in safety solutions that fit their budget and OSHA compliance requirements. Don't let the market turbulence affect your company's safety initiatives, rooftop railings, or long-term plans. Contact us today to learn more about our solutions or browse our website to find the right fit for your upcoming plans.