Slip Resistant TestingUpdated a year ago

Without a standard for your workplace, employees are left to determine the appropriate slip-resistant shoe for their work environment-which isn't always as easy as it seems. Many shoes are labeled as "slip-resistant" but are often not effective enough for chefs, nurses, and other professionals who are exposed to slippery floors. The best way to make an informed decision about slip-resistant shoes is to compare your potential choice of shoes to standardized test procedures.

There are a variety of slip-resistance test machines (English XL, Brungraber Mark II, SATRA STM 603, and others) and a wide variance in test conditions (dry, wet, contaminated with oil, soap, etc.). Some machines measure slip resistance based on how much force it takes for an outsole to begin slipping, while others test based on how much force can be applied before a slip occurs. The test machine SNIBBS Slip Resistant Shoes has chosen for our standardized tests is the Mark II. 

Testing done on the Mark II machine generates a coefficient of friction number. The coefficient of friction measures the resistance between the walkway surface and the shoe sole material moving over it. The machine can be set to test under dry, wet, or wet with contaminant conditions and with a test arm that can be set at zero to f degrees from vertical. Test result values range from 0.0 (Very Poor) to 1.0 (Extremely Slip Resistant).

Since it is less likely that people will fall on clean, dry surfaces, slip resistance testing should take place under less-than-optimal conditions. This generally means wet or wet/contaminated surfaces.