subject: Using Stainless Steel Can Prevent Corrosion And Enhance Long Term Safety [print this page] Stainless steel fasteners are the only choice for anyone that is concerned with safety in an outdoor or industrial environment. Other materials may have a lower initial cost, but the money saved up front represents a false economy. Stainless steel fasteners are as strong as their regular steel counterparts -at least, until rust eats away the competition, leaving behind iron oxide and problems that could have been avoided.
Many a contractor has attempted to cut costs by buying bright or galvanized steel hardware instead of stainless. If the safety equipment is to be temporary in nature this may be a viable option, however if the fasteners are intended for a permanent, or long term installation than stainless is probably the way to go. The slower corrosion rate of stainless will reduce the need to replace rusty fasteners and the labour involved in doing so. Depending on the term of the installation, the reduction of labour costs and the risks involved in unnecessary maintenance can be a substantial benefit.
It's easy to understand why stainless steel fasteners are a better solution for long term safety lines and brackets. Every time a worker has to leave the security of the ground there is a risk involved. Those risks can become exasperated by safety equipment that has rusty fasteners. A routine maintenance or construction task can have disastrous results if the fasteners fail because of oxidation.
The use of stainless steel for fasteners with corrosion resistance has been encouraged in the marine environment for nearly as long as stainless steel technology has been available to those involved. Boaters, riggers, and sailors all swear by stainless steel and would be hard-pressed to accept anything less. Stainless steels reliability and resilience to the harsh conditions faced by yachtsmen is world renowned.
When offshore boaters have a conversation involving fasteners it is not even necessary to mention stainless steel, it is generally assumed, in fact to use anything else would be more remarkable. Stainless steel is a byword in the marine dictionary and no serious boater would risk anything less. Their lives depend on their knowledge and their gear, so they tend to spend a few more pounds on their gear.
If it's necessary to risk a life to do a task, than it is also necessary to take every precaution to ensure the safety of the one performing that task.
Professionals and sportsmen agree, stainless steel for safety is an absolute essential in any corrosive environment. To ask a man to risk his life on anything less would be unthinkable.
