Abstract:

Slipping accidents are one of the most common causes of injury in the general community and industry. The control of slipping involves a complex array of factors including the characteristics of the walker's footwear and behaviours, the walking surfaces, contaminants and lubricants. Notwithstanding this complexity, slip resistance has been simply measured as a form of coefficient of friction (COF). It has been found that there are some ambiguities in the interpretation of the COF measurement results. This thesis focuses on broadening the knowledge base and developing concepts on which improvements in the validity and reliability of the slip resistance measurement might be made. The research includes a comprehensive investigation of surface topography of both shoes and floor surfaces before and after the tests, and their interactions.