Ice on walkway surfaces increases the chance that a pedestrian will slip and fall. Sand in the amount of 2.2 lb/100 ft2(10.8 kg/100 m2) increases slip resistance to about 0.5, the commonly accepted minimum slip resistance for a flat, straight walking surface. Ice covered with a layer of water has about the same level of slip resistance but could be more dangerous since the ice may not be perceived.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
AbeysekeraJ.GaoC. (2001). The identification of factors in the systematic evaluation of slip prevention on icy surfaces. International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics28 pp. 303–313.
2.
BakkenG. M. (2002). Human factors and legal aspects of fall injuries. In HydeA. S.BakkenG. M.AbeleJ. R.CohenH. H.LaRueC. A., (Eds.) Falls and Related Injuries: Slips, Trips, Missteps and their Consequences.Tucson, AZ: Lawyers and Judges Publishing.
3.
BurnfieldJ. M. (2003). Factors influencing utilized coefficient of friction during ambulation: Figure entitled “Peak COFu.” Presented at Biomechanics of Slips and Falls, sponsored by ASTM Committee F-13 on Pedestrian/Walkway Safety and Footwear. West Conshohocken, PA: ASTM International.
4.
EkkebusC. F.KilleyW. (1973). Measurement of safe walkway surfaces, Journal of Soap/Cosmetics/Chemical Specialties, December.
5.
EnglishW. (1996). Pedestrian slip resistance: how to measure it and how to improve it. Alva, FL: William English.
PerkinsP. J. (1977). Measurement of slip between the shoe and ground during walking, in walkway surfaces: Measurement of slip resistance. ASTM Special Technical Publication 649, ASTM International: Philadelphia, PA, pp. 71–87.
8.
SacherA. (1993). Slip resistance and the James machine: 0.5 static coefficient of friction — sine qua non. ASTM Standardization News, August.
9.
TemplerJ. (1992). The staircase: studies of hazards, falls and safer design. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.
10.
ThompsonD. A.CohenH. H.HorstD. P.JohnsonD. A.OlsenR. A. (2005). A guide to forensic human factors terminology. In NoyY. I.KarwowskiW. (Eds.), Handbook of human factors in litigation. New York: CRC Press.
