Introduction
Choosing slip-resistant footwear from the whole host of products on the market can be difficult. Sole descriptions are varied, from 'improving the grip performance' to 'excellent multi-directional slip-resistance'. Often, footwear is just described as 'slip-resistant' and the brochure does not describe the conditions for which the footwear is most suitable.
Footwear selection has to take account of a number of factors in addition to slip resistance, such as comfort, durability and any other safety features required, such as toe protection. The final choice may have to be a compromise.
Top tips
- Accidents are expensive – there are many hidden and uninsured costs. With footwear, like any product, you tend to get what you pay for. Ensure you buy footwear which will do the job – this will not necessarily be the cheapest. But it may be more comfortable or attractive – ensuring that staff wear it, and it may last longer.
- Specify the main surfaces and contaminants which cause slip risks in your workplace, and seek your supplier's advice on suitable footwear.
- Some generally slip-resistant footwear may not be suitable in specific demanding conditions. For example, footwear that performs well in the wet might not be suitable on oily surfaces or where there are sticky food spillages which clog up the cleats.
- You can commission additional slip testing through the supplier – eg on surfaces/ contaminants representative of your workplace.
- Consider asking your supplier to provide trial pairs to help you make the right choice, and do not select footwear on the basis of brochure descriptions or laboratory test results alone.
- Footwear trials should involve a representative sample of the workforce and last long enough to produce meaningful results. Remember - workers may not wear footwear if it is uncomfortable or impractical, no matter how effective it is.
Key points on soles and walking surfaces
- The sole tread pattern and sole compound are both important for slip resistance. Generally a softer sole and close-packed tread pattern work well with fluid contaminants and indoor environments. A more open pattern works better outdoors or with solid contaminants. The only sure way to tell is to trial footwear in your environment.
- Tread patterns should not become clogged with any waste or debris on the floor – soles should be cleaned regularly. If soles do clog up then look for an alternative design of sole, eg with a wider space between the cleats and a deeper tread pattern.
- Slip resistance properties can change with wear; for example, some soles can deteriorate with wear, especially when the cleats become worn down.
- Have a system for checking and replacing footwear before it becomes worn and dangerous.
- The correct choice of footwear on wet or contaminated profiled steel or aluminium surfaces, eg chequer plate, is important. With some footwear the surface profiles do not provide the improvement in slip resistance that might be expected.
- 'Oil-resistant' does not mean 'slip-resistant' – the former is just a statement that the soles will not be damaged by oil.
Testing for slip resistance
Check with your supplier whether the footwear you are interested in has actually been tested for slip resistance – older models might not have been. Where footwear has been tested, coefficient of friction (CoF) test values must be available. CoF data can be requested from the supplier. Some suppliers now publish it in their catalogues. The higher the CoF, the better the slip resistance. Look for CoF results higher than the minimum requirements set out in annex A of EN ISO 20345/6/7: 2004 (A1:2007) - the standards for safety, protective and occupational footwear.
The safety features of footwear, including slip resistance, are tested according to a set of European test standards written into EN ISO 20344:2004 (A1: 2007). Footwear which has passed the EN test for slip resistance will be marked with one of the following codes, SRA, SRB or SRC.
The codes indicate that the footwear has met the specified requirements when tested as follows:
- SRA – tested on ceramic tile wetted with dilute soap solution;
- SRB – tested on smooth steel with glycerol;
- SRC – tested under both the above conditions.
It should be noted that these test surfaces are not wholly representative of all underfoot surfaces, so additional information may be needed to help to identify the best slip-resistant shoes for your particular environment.
The Health and Safety Laboratory (HSL) carries out research on footwear testing for HSE, and they have developed an in-house test which they have used for testing many footwear types. See:
RR801 - A study of the effect of modifying the European Standard mechanical slip resistance test for footwear (UK Government Web Archive)
Supplying slip-resistant footwear
Key role of manufacturers and suppliers
For many employers slip-resistant footwear plays an important role. Employers may have put in several control measures to reduce the risk of slips, but if a slip risk still remains, introducing footwear with slip-resistant properties may be the only effective way they can further reduce the risk of slips. For them, making the right choice of footwear for their employees and the work environment is vital if slips are to be reduced.
As a manufacturer or supplier you have a key role in ensuring that suitable products are available and that procurers have the information to enable them to make the right choices.
It is essential that procurers can be sure that the chosen footwear type will live up to the product description. Furthermore, you have a legal duty to provide accurate descriptions of your products. An HSE study (RR747 - Assessment of slips safety information/literature provided by flooring and footwear suppliers) in 2008 showed that in many cases suppliers provided limited information on slip resistance, which made it difficult for procurers to select the right footwear.
Case studies
You can view several case studies - footwear which show how slip-resistant footwear has been of use in different environments.
Slip resistance test methods
The safety features of footwear, including slip resistance, are tested according to a set of European test standards written into EN ISO 20344:2004 (A1:2007). The performance specifications are given in an associated set of personal protective equipment (PPE) standards, namely:
- EN ISO 20345:2004 (A1:2007) for safety footwear
- EN ISO 20346:2004 (A1:2007) for protective footwear
- EN ISO 20347:2004 (A1:2007) for occupational footwear
The manufacturer has to prove slip resistance performance through testing. This is normally done using European standard BS EN ISO 13287:2007 - Personal protective equipment – Footwear – Test method for slip resistance.
Standards can be purchased from BSI.
The test surfaces are not wholly representative of all underfoot conditions so you may wish to consider having additional testing done to identify the best slip-resistant shoes for your particular environment.
The Health and Safety Laboratory (HSL) carries out research on footwear testing for HSE, and they have developed an in-house test which they have used for testing many footwear types. See:
RR801 - A study of the effect of modifying the European Standard mechanical slip resistance test for footwear (UK Government Web Archive)
Information to be provided
Depending on the test conditions chosen, footwear tested according to the EN standards is now marked with one of the following codes, SRA, SRB, SRC.
The codes indicate that the footwear has met the specified requirements when tested as follows:
- SRA – tested on ceramic tile wetted with dilute soap solution
- SRB – tested on smooth steel with glycerol
- SRC – tested under both the above conditions
Footwear products once tested and certified are stamped with the CE mark. The manufacturer also provides user information indicating the applications for which the footwear is suitable.
The test house will provide you, the supplier, with coefficient of friction (CoF) test values for the footwear. You must include this data in the technical file associated with the footwear, and procurers can request the CoF values from you. Some suppliers now include CoF data in their catalogues.
Further information
If footwear has helped you in preventing slips accidents, HSE would like to hear about it and to publicise it as a case study. Contact us.