The findings support the hypothesis that persons wearing hard-soled shoes are more likely to experience slips compared to persons wearing soft-soled shoes. Seven of 20 subjects in the hard-soled-shoe group (35 percent) experienced a slip during the reduced available friction trial, and none of the subjects in the soft-soled-shoe group experienced a slip event. These findings confirm existing claims that footwear-sole hardness is an important contributor to slip risk and should be considered when designing shoes intended to reduce the incidence of slips. These findings have industrial implications, since shoes worn on industrial sites are often made from harder materials in order to reduce abrasion over time; however, it is possible that the potential for decreased slip resistance might put individuals at risk for slip/fall injuries, especially in the presence of a contaminant or work areas with reduced friction on the walking surface. Forty healthy young adults between the ages of 23 and 40 years old participated in the study. Subjects were randomized into 1 of 2 shoe groups: soft-sole harness (n=20) and hard-sole hardness (n=20). Each group was composed of 10 men and 10 women. Persons with any neurological or orthopedic conditions that would interfere with gait were excluded from the study. Subjects were tested under two conditions: a normal nonslippery condition (dry high-pressure laminate) and a reduced available friction condition (dry Teflon). Prior to the testing, subjects were fitted with an adjustable fall-arresting harness in order to prevent falls should slips occur. 4 tables, 4 figures, and 32 references
