Evaluating the Slip Resistance of Various Walkway Surface Contaminants

Abstract

For decades, falls have been a leading cause of preventable injury and death in the United States. Slip and falls, which are often caused by a contaminant(s) on the walkway, are one of the most prevalent types of falls in several industries. There were two main purposes of this study. The first was to evaluate whether the English XL Tribometer could reliably measure the slip resistance of contaminants other than liquids, including semi-liquids and dry goods. The second purpose was to evaluate the slip resistance properties of various walkway surface contaminants on different types of flooring surfaces using an English XL Tribometer. The findings showed that the English XL Tribometer is capable of reliably measuring the slip resistance of surfaces when they are contaminated with not only liquids, but also semi-liquids and dry goods. The findings also showed that surfaces that were slippery and hazardous for pedestrians when contaminated with water became even more slippery when contaminated with other contaminants such as common beverages, condiments, personal cleaning products, and various dry goods like sugar, cornmeal, and oats. The findings also indicated that even surfaces that were “slip resistant” and “safe” when wet with water can become slippery and hazardous for pedestrians when contaminated with more viscous contaminants such as condiments and personal cleaning products, along with dry goods like sugar, cornmeal, and oats.