How Tribology Transforms Slip, Trip, and Fall Prevention in the Workplace

Tribology explores the complex interaction of surfaces in motion with the objective of understanding friction and minimizing wear. It has an extensive history, dating back to Leonardo da Vinci’s early studies on friction. In today’s more practical use, it can help organizations understand the primary risks for employees and customers to experience a slip, trip, and fall incident.

“People, ambient parameters, floors and maintenance, and footwear are primary root causes for why slips, trips, and falls occur,” said Steve Simon, Senior Risk Control Manager at Safety National. “Tribology-based methods, like slip testing and effectively designed walking paths, account for a surface’s characteristics and how it will perform under different conditions that consider those root causes.”

The Cost of Slip, Trip, and Fall Incidents

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the second leading cause of workplace injuries are slips, trips, and falls with 30% of people suffering moderate to severe injuries. Additionally, 46% of fatal fall injuries happen to older Americans. Employees who experience slip, trip, and fall accidents average a workers’ compensation payout of $40,000 per incident, with $70 billion paid annually toward medical costs and compensation associated with employee slip and fall accidents. When customers are injured, the liability costs can be extraordinary.

• An Alabama man won $7.5 million in a slip and fall injury claim against a national retailer when his foot became lodged in a pallet used to display watermelons. Store surveillance caught this incident on camera and the retailer was found guilty of negligence and recklessness.
• The largest settlement ever awarded in a slip, trip, and fall lawsuit was over $20 million to a plaintiff. The case went to trial, and the jury found that the hotel had failed to warn its guests of a hazardous condition and was liable for her injuries.
• A woman slipped on a wet floor while shopping at a grocery store in Maryland. She suffered serious injuries, including broken bones and facial fractures. She sued the grocery store chain for negligence and was awarded $10 million as compensation for her medical expenses, lost wages, pain, and suffering.

Tribology Methods Used to Prevent Slips, Trips, and Falls

Tribology uses scientific methods, such as slip testing that allow tribologists to improve flooring materials, design slip-resistant surfaces, and reduce workplace hazards. Some of the methods utilized in this practice include:

• Tribometer – This electronic device provides precise digital measurements of dynamic coefficient of friction (DCOF). Its advanced technology ensures high accuracy and repeatability, making it a reliable tool for assessing legal and safety evaluations. It uses a motor to move a standardized rubber slider with consistent speed and pressure across a hard surface to determine available coefficient of friction (ACOF).
• Pendulum Tester – Used in over 50 countries, the Portable Skid Resistance Tester (also referred to as the British Pendulum) is the most used testing method worldwide. This device mimics the dynamics of a slipping foot by simulating a heel strike motion. Its consistent and reproducible results are crucial for legal and safety assessments.
• ACOF > RCOF – ACOF is the friction provided when the sole of the shoe meets the surface. Required coefficient of friction (RCOF) is the friction required by the pedestrian for the maneuver being attempted, such as walking, turning, and stopping. If ACOP exceeds RCOF, the pedestrian should not slip.

Understanding Friction, Wear, and Surface Interaction

Designing practices and solutions to prevent slips, trips, and falls requires an understanding of how the root causes of incidents, like people and footwear, interact with surfaces. A material’s slip resistance characteristics and surface roughness should be considered when evaluating floor designs, especially those leading from a parking lot and near entrances.

Specific floor mats that absorb and abrade water can also be incredibly effective, particularly when placed at entrances and under water fountains, ice machines, and restrooms. Entrance mats should have an adequate length that allows for absorption. For example, when raining, it may require a minimum of 12 to 15 feet of coverage to remove 90% of tracked soil and moisture, according to the Carpet and Rug Institute. Mats may also need to be exchanged on days when they become saturated.

Stairs can be particularly dangerous when wet and require special attention. Stairs should be properly lit with 12-15 lumens per square foot. A visible, brighter handrail on both sides and stair nosing, edges, and surfaces may prevent slips, trips, and falls. Use signage when stairs are irregularly shaped or distanced.

Developing a formal slip, trip and fall program that includes policies, a dedicated checklist, and a specific matting and cleaning process, along with slip testing will help minimize the risk of slip, trip, and fall incidents.