Citation

Gao C, Abeysekera JD, Hirvonen M, Aschan C. Int. J. Ind. Ergonomics 2003; 31(5): 323-330.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2003, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Footwear sole wear by natural use or artificial abrasion either increases or decreases slip resistance on floors with and without lubricant. The objectives of this paper were to study the effect of footwear sole abrasive wear on slip resistance on ice with respect to temperature, and to compare the slip resistance of abraded soles on melting and hard ice with that on lubricated steel plate. The kinetic coefficient of friction (COF) of nine pairs of footwear were measured with the stationary step simulator developed at the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, before and after the new footwear soles were artificially abraded. Two-way factorial ANOVA showed that the abrasion of nine pairs of footwear had no significant effect on COF on melting ice (Mean COF with ABRASION=0.056, STD=0.0158, COF without ABRASION=0.055, STD=0.0205, P=0.805). On hard ice, however, the COF of abraded soles measured (mean COF=0.244) was significantly higher than without abrasion (mean COF=0.180, ppppRelevance to industrySlipping and falling accidents are common on surfaces covered with snow, ice, melting snow, melting ice or the mixed in winter for outdoor workers and pedestrians. Understanding of the friction at the interface can help footwear industry design slip resistant products, to help outdoor workers choose appropriate protective equipment, and to provide safe work practice for industries involving outdoor work.