The reduction of slip and fall injuries: Part II—The scientific basis (knowledge base) for the guide

• Published in: Elsevier Ergonomics Book Series Vol. 1; pp. 183 - 188
• Main Author: Leamon, Tom B.
• Format: Book Chapter
• Language: English
• Published: United Kingdom Elsevier B.V 2000; Elsevier; Elsevier Science & Technology
• Subjects: Educational: Technology; Ergonomics; Human Engineering & Ergonomics; Industrial Engineering & Operations Management; Occupational / industrial health & safety
• ISBN: 0080436439; 9780080436432
• ISSN: 1572-347X
• DOI: 10.1016/S1572-347X(00)80013-0

The coefficient of friction (COF) between the shoe material and the walking surface is clearly of significance to slipping accidents. Friction is classically measured in one of the two ways. Three basic approaches have been used in the past to measure friction coefficients—(1) pulling an instrumented load across the surface, (2) allowing a pendulum to strike the surface under test, and (3) displacing an articulated strut. Currently, the most widely used technique for measuring COF is based on the original James machine, called the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) method. The main purpose of such a machine is to establish the static COF of various walking surfaces, and the test utilizes specially prepared leather and floor surfaces to achieve repeatability. Experiments have indicated that people manipulate gait when walking on slippery surfaces. Proprioceptive recognition of the slipperiness of the surface is probably automatically monitored during walking to allow these adjustments to be made. Discontinuities in surface slipperiness have been implicated as a significant factor in many slips, and these occur when the subject, walking on an accustomed surface, unexpectedly encounters a patch with lower frictional characteristics or of higher frictional characteristics.