Citation

Jung K, Fischer A. Safety Sci. 1993; 16(3-4): 189-206.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1993, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

A technical test method for assessing anti-slip properties of footwear was developed by a working-group of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). Interlaboratory trials were organized to determine the precision of this ISO-test method based on DIN ISO 5725. The test machines used in the interlaboratory trials gave results that varied widely, although every single machine proved to be acceptably repeatable.

Some of the laboratories, that participated in the interlaboratory trials, used test methods involving test persons to validate the ISO-test method. The results thus obtained were compared to the results achieved by means of the ISO-test method. Significant correlations could hardly be shown to exist between the test methods involving test persons. A comparison of the ISO-test method with the different test methods involving test persons reveals all Pearson product-moment-correlations and 6 of the 10 Spearman-rank-correlations not to be significant. Overall, the results do not confirm the validity of the ISO-test method.

The following questions have still to be answered with a view to developing adequate test machines for the determination of slip resistance of footwear and floors: (1) Which test conditions are best to simulate the way people move, e.g. walking, running? (2) How will it be possible to check the transferability of the values measured by a test machine to actually existing conditions? (3) Is a direct comparison of the results obtained from different machines possible?