Abstract
Slips and falls in the workplace are a major concern for injuries. Worn shoes are a known risk factor for slips and falls. The purpose of this pilot study was to analyze changes in shoe traction performance under fluid contaminant conditions as the shoes were progressively worn. Four subjects wore two different shoes with varying tread patterns. Shoes were tested after each month of wear. The two types of shoes responded to wear differently; one shoe experienced a substantial decrease in available coefficient of friction (ACOF) while the other shoe showed no substantive change. Loads supported by the fluid during slipping increased with wear of the shoes. Furthermore, ACOF was influenced by the shoe type and the walking distance. This study suggests that the impact of wear on shoe performance is dependent on the shoe design. Thus, future studies are needed to understand specific effects of shoe design.
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