Selecting slip resistant winter footwear for personal support workers

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health and Safety
• Biomechanics
• Materials Science

Background:

• Falls are a leading cause of workplace injuries, particularly for outdoor workers like Personal Support Workers (PSWs).
• Slip-resistant footwear is crucial for preventing falls, but objective performance data for consumers is lacking.
• A novel Maximum Achievable Angle (MAA) test offers objective slip resistance ratings for footwear.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate and rank the slip resistance of various winter footwear options suitable for PSWs.
• To provide objective data to aid PSWs in selecting safe and effective winter footwear.

Main Methods:

• Surveyed 677 PSWs to identify preferred footwear characteristics and needs.
• Selected 40 representative footwear models based on survey results.
• Applied the Maximum Achievable Angle (MAA) test to objectively measure slip resistance on ice.

Main Results:

• Comfort and slip resistance were identified as the most critical factors in footwear selection by PSWs.
• Only six out of 40 tested footwear types demonstrated good slip resistance on icy surfaces.
• A significant gap exists between PSW footwear preferences and actual slip-resistant performance.

Conclusions:

• The majority of winter footwear meeting PSW preferences exhibit inadequate slip resistance on ice.
• PSWs are advised to use the ratemytreads.com website for informed footwear choices to enhance winter safety.
• Objective testing is essential for ensuring the efficacy of slip-resistant footwear in preventing occupational fall injuries.