An analysis of floor roughness & slip resistance of floors

Slip and fall are the main cause of occupational injuries or fatalities at workplace. Falls have been one of the top three occupational incidences which reached a peak in 2013 with an incidence percentage of 17% in Taiwan. Most falls were attributed to unsafe environment where the floors were contaminated by the water and other liquids. This research was focused on the relationship between floor slip resistance and floor roughness. The coefficient of friction (COF) of 13 floors under four floor contaminated conditions were measured using two footwear pads. An English XL friction measurement device was adopted. The results showed that floors roughness, footwear sample, and floor surface condition are all significant factors affecting the COF. All the floors with Ra more than 25 µm had COF values higher than 0.5 when measured using the flat footwear pad.