Author Ellen Szubski
Slip and falls occur when there is an unexpected loss of traction between a person’s foot and the walking surface, causing them to lose balance and fall. This type of injury is common and can occur in any setting where people walk, including homes, workplaces, and public areas. Slips can result in serious injuries, particularly for older adults.
The human gait cycle consists of four phases: the stance phase, the toe-off phase, the swing phase, and the heel-strike phase. A slip is most likely to occur when there is an unexpected change in the slip resistance of the walking surface during the heel-strike phase of the gait cycle. Here the heel quickly changes position on the walkway causing a sudden change in the pedestrians’ center of gravity. A fall will occur if the pedestrian is unable to accommodate the sudden change in their center of gravity and remain upright. Some factors that contribute to slip and fall events include the type of flooring and the presence of moisture and/or contaminants on the floor.
Pollen can mix with water to create a contaminated walking surface for pedestrians.
Contaminants on walkways-whether indoor or outdoor-are a common cause of slips. Contaminants can be anything that alter the grip or texture of the walking surface such as water, oil, dust, dirt, sand, pollen, leaves, cleaning solutions, food, algae and mold. These contaminants reduce traction, making it harder for shoes (or feet) to grip the ground properly. This time of year, pollen is a prevalent walkway contamination. For example, an elderly woman was on her morning walk at a vacation rental home in the early spring. She walked on a pollen and water mixture contaminated walkway. Her heel slipped unexpectedly during the heel strike phase of the gait cycle and threw her off balance. Unable to restore her center of gravity, the woman fell and sustained serious injuries. The pollen and water contaminated walkway surface lacked sufficient traction for the woman to remain upright and caused her to slip.
There are effective measures to reduce the likelihood of a slip event. The best way to control slip and fall hazards is to remove the hazard completely. If the flooring is contaminated with pollen, then the pollen should be removed from the walking surface. In addition, flooring with little slip resistance should be replaced with flooring material with higher slip resistance. Adding non-slip coating such as grit additive increases the slip resistance of the floor. If replacing or altering the existing flooring material is not possible, then separating pedestrians from inadvertent exposure to the slippery surface is an option. Barriers surrounding a contaminated surface before it is adequately cleaned prevent a pedestrian from unintentionally encountering a hazard. Lastly, hazard warnings can be used in addition to either removing or guarding a hazard to prevent pedestrians from slipping, such as conspicuous signs near the hazard to warn pedestrians of the potential slip hazard.
Removing the containments, such as algae growth on the sidewalk pictured, is the most effective method of reducing the likelihood of a slip and fall event.
Slips can result in serious injuries for pedestrians. Contaminated walking surfaces increase the likelihood of a pedestrian slipping, losing their balance, and falling. Water, oil, dust, dirt, sand, leaves, cleaning solutions, food, algae and mold are common walkway contaminates that should be maintained in order to mitigate the likelihood of pedestrians slipping while walking. In the spring, pollen can cause more than just seasonal allergies as it also covers and contaminates walkway surfaces, decreasing traction, and increasing the chances of a pedestrian slipping.
Ellen Szubski, Ph.D., CXLT, CPSI, AHFP, is a human factors consultant at The Warren Group. She earned a Doctorate of Philosophy in Human Factors Psychology and a Master of Science in Applied Psychology from Clemson University. She did her dissertation on “The Influence of Pedestrian Biological Motion on Time-To-Collision Estimates at Night”. She is also a Certified XL Tribometrist, Certified Playground Safety Inspector and a Certified Associate Human Factors Professional (AHFP). Prior to entering the forensic field, Ellen planned and conducted experiments for a major bicycle manufacturer. She also conducted laser strike perception studies for the Department of Defense. Ellen applies her experience in Human Factors to the analysis of crash investigations and other personal injury matters. These matters often include collisions involving vulnerable road users and drivers, driver distraction, and slips, trips, and falls. She utilizes her knowledge of OSHA regulations, codes, and standards in her analysis of premises liability incidents and safety consulting. Ellen is a current member of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society (HFES) and it’s Forensic Professional Technical Group.
