Sage Journals: Discover world-class research

Abstract

This study investigated the role of surface finishes from different material types of floors/walkways on traction properties and identified their effects on slipperiness controls under diverse walking environments to prevent fall incidence. Measurements and analyses of surface textures and traction properties of floors/walkways and interpretations were based on a tribological concept. Dynamic friction tests were conducted amongst nine indoor and outdoor floor specimens and three shoes under four different risk levels of environments. Test results showed that traction performances were considerably influenced by surface finishes of the floor specimens under the moderately (soapy) and highly (oily) risky conditions. This study also uncovered that rough floors did not mechanically ensure higher slip resistance whilst some smooth floors exhibited better slip resistance than the rougher ones. Nevertheless, outcomes from this study provided fundamental, but important information on the walkway traction properties that showed multifaceted features of tribological phenomena. Based on the overall findings, this study proposed an insight to identify the impact of floor/walkway textures on traction performances and consequently exploit sensible design concepts for the floor surfaces to prevent fall incidents.

Keywords

Fall incidence indoor/outdoor floors lubricated environments slip resistance surface roughness walkway safety

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Franse

Rietjens

JAC

Burdorf

, et al. A prospective study on the variation in falling and fall risk among community dwelling older citizens in 12 European countries. BMJ Open 2017; 7: 1–10.

Haddad

Bergen

Luo

. Reducing fall risk in older adults. Am J Nursing 2018; 118: 21–22.

World Health Organization (WHO). Falls 2018, https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/falls (accessed 24 November 2019).

Redfern

Cham

Gielo-Perczak

, et al. Biomechanics of slips. Ergon 2001; 44: 1138–1166.

Kim

Smith

. A critical analysis of the relationship between shoe-floor wear and pedestrian/walkway slip resistance. In: Marpet MI and Sapienza MA (eds) Metrology of pedestrian locomotion and slip resistance, ASTM STP 1424. West Conshohocken, PA, USA: ASTM International, 2003, pp.33–48.

Kim

Nagata

. Research on slip resistance measurements – a new challenge. Ind Health 2008; 46: 66–76.

Kim

Hsiao

Simeonov

. Functional levels of floor surface roughness for the prevention of slips and falls: clean-and-dry and soapsuds-covered wet surfaces. Appl Ergon 2013; 44: 58–64.

Kim

. Pedestrian fall safety assessments: improved understanding on slip resistance measurements and investigations. Switzerland: Springer International Publishing AG, 2017, pp.17–66.

Emilia Irzmańska

. Protective footwear and the risk of slipping in older workers – definitions, achievements, recommendations. AUTEX Res J 2015; 15: 181–190.

10.

Kim

. Hospital flooring safety and health: knowledge gaps and suggestions. Int J Occ Saf Ergon 2019; 29: 1–20.

11.

Kim

. Investigation of floor surface finishes for optimal slip resistance performance. Saf Health at Work 2018; 9: 17–24.

12.

Chang

Matz

. The effect of filtering processes on surface roughness parameters and their correlation with the measured friction, part I: quarry tiles. Saf Sci 2000; 36: 19–33.

13.

Kim

Smith

. Observation of the floor surface topography changes in pedestrian slip resistance measurements. Int J Ind Ergon 2000; 6: 581–601.

14.

Kim

Smith

Nagata

. Microscopic observations of the progressive wear on the shoe surfaces that affect the slip resistance characteristics. Int J Ind Ergon 2001; 28: 17–29.

15.

Kim

. Investigation and interpretation of flooring wear developments for pedestrian fall safety assessments. Tribol Trans 2018; 61: 168–177.

16.

Kim

. Wear observation of shoe surfaces: application for slip and sall safety assessments. Tribol Trans 2015; 58: 407–417.

17.

Kim

. Identifying shoe wear mechanisms and associated tribological characteristics: the importance for slip resistance evaluation. Wear 2016; 360-1: 77–86.

18.

Perkins

Wilson

. Slip resistance testing of shoes – new development. Ergon 1983; 26: 73–82.

19.

Strandberg

Lanshammar

. The dynamics of slipping accidents. J Occu Acc 1981; 3: 153–162.

20.

Thomas

. Rough surfaces. 2nd ed. London: Imperial College Press, 1999.

21.

Bewoor

Kulkarni

. Metrology & measurement. New Delhi, India: Tata McGraw-Hill Education, 2009, pp.266–299.

22.

Chang

Kim

Manning

, et al. The role of surface roughness in the measurement of slipperiness. Ergon 2001; 44: 1200–1216.

23.

Stevens

. Fatalities and injuries from falls among older adults – United States, 1993–2003 and 2001–2005. MNWR 2006; 55: 1221–1224.

24.

AS/NZS 4663, Slip resistance measurements of existing pedestrian surfaces. Australian Standards AS/NZS 4663, Sydney NSW, Australia, 2004.

25.

Chang

. The effects of surface roughness and contaminant on the dynamic friction of porcelain tile. Appl Ergon 2001; 32: 173–184.

26.

Chang

. The effects of surface roughness and contaminants on the dynamic friction between porcelain tile and vulcanized rubber. Saf Sci 2002; 40: 577–591.

27.

Manning

Jones

. The effect of roughness, floor polish, water, oil and ice on underfoot friction: current safety footwear solings are less slip resistant than microcellular polyurethane. Appl Ergon 2001; 32: 185–196.

Tribological approach for the safety assessment of flooring/walkway surfaces: Application for the prevention of pedestrian fall incidence

Abstract

Keywords

Get full access to this article

References