The Effect of Tread Patterns on Slip Resistance of Footwear Outsoles Based on Composite Materials in Icy Conditions

Details

• Personal Author:
  Bagheri ZS ; Dutta T ; Gide K ; Islam S
• Description:
  Introduction: Falls on icy surfaces are the leading cause of injuries for outdoor workers. Footwear outsole material and geometrical design parameters are the most significant factors affecting slips-and-falls. Recently, composite materials have been incorporated into outsoles to improve traction, yet the best design parameters are not fully understood. Method: In this effort, based on Taguchi orthogonal array design, 27 outsole prototypes were fabricated with different tread pattern features using our patented composites and tested in a simulated winter condition. Results: An analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed that surface area (p = 0.041, Contribution = 15.63%) was the only factor significantly affecting the slip-resistance of our prototypes. The best performance was observed for the maximized surface area covered by our composite material with circular and half circular plugs laid obliquely, mostly in the forefoot area. Practical Applications: These findings suggest that some tread design features of composite-based footwear have a great role in affecting slip-resistance properties of composite-based footwear. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Accidental Falls Accidents Occupational Health Safety
• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: Slips Falls Footwear Icy Conditions Seasonal Factors Slip-resistant Footwear Outsole Slips, Trips, And Falls STF Taguchi Method Walking Surfaces
• ISSN:
  0022-4375
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Cooperative Agreement
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  New York ; OSHA Region 2 ; OSHA Region 3 ; Virginia
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  453-464
• Volume:
  87
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20068425
• Citation:
  J Safety Res 2023 Dec; 87:453-464
• Contact Point Address:
  Z. Shaghayegh Bagheri, Department of Mechanical Engineering, George Mason University, 4400 University Dr, Fairfax, VA 22030
• Email:
  sbagheri@gmu.edu
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2024
• NORA Priority Area:
  Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing
• Performing Organization:
  Mary Imogene Bassett Hospital, Cooperstown, New York
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20010930
• Source Full Name:
  Journal of Safety Research
• End Date:
  20270831
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:05163fcf6346944311a2198f1873fc5afb73b9266b074d4324b4a635161a2d9d3a2a994663ca5ac151df9536b7df2971ef131240e061f7de953882ca45d8b7f3
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/230581/cdc_230581_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 2.95 MB ]