Advances in footwear and surface for prevention of occupational slips and falls - A scoping review

This scoping review synthesizes research since 2016 on footwear and surface in relation to slip and fall risks. Following the PRISMA-ScR protocol, studies were mapped to fit this scope of footwear and surface interaction from an ergonomic perspective. Key findings show advances in portable tribometers, aiming for realistic representation of shoe/surface interface during slipping events. Evidence shows that footwear geometry and viscoelastic outsole material properties all influence friction, while shoe wear generally reduces friction over time. Surface roughness can increase friction under fluid-contaminated conditions, though effects remain highly context specific. The literature consistently demonstrates that shoe/surface friction is a complex and poorly generalizable domain, where friction depends strongly on outsole geometry and material, contamination type and surface characteristics. We therefore recommend industry-specific slip/friction measurements that account for tribo-fidelity, i.e., realistic simulation of shoe/surface interface as well as test equipment capable of replicating bio-fidelity, i.e., realistic simulation of human slip events.