title: Duration of slip-resistant shoe usage and the rate of slipping in limited-service restaurants: results from a prospective and crossover study.
abstract: Several studies have indicated that slip-resistant shoes may have a positive effect on reducing the risk of slips and falls, a leading cause of injury at work. Few studies, however, have examined how duration of shoe usage affects their slip-resistance properties. This study examined the association between the duration of slip-resistant shoes usage and the self-reported rate of slipping in limited-service restaurant workers. A total of 475 workers from 36 limited-service restaurants in the USA were recruited to participate in a 12-week prospective study of workplace slipping. Of the 475 participants, 83 reported changing to a new pair of shoes at least once during the 12-week follow-up. The results show that slip-resistant shoes worn for less than six months were moderately more effective than those worn for more than six months. Changing to a new pair of shoes among those wearing slip-resistant shoes at baseline was associated with a 55% reduction in the rate of slipping (RR = 0.45, 95% CI = 0.23-0.89). Further research is needed to develop criteria for the replacement of slip-resistant shoes.
authors.affiliation: a Center for Injury Epidemiology, Liberty Mutual Research Institute for Safety , Hopkinton , MA , USA.
authors.forename: Santosh K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Verma
authors.forename: Zhe
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Theodore K
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Courtney
authors.forename: Wen-Ruey
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Lombardi
authors.forename: Yueng-Hsiang
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Melanye J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Brennan
authors.forename: Melissa J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Perry
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D060051:Occupational Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012147:Restaurants / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012775:Shoes; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: falls; injury; personal protective equipment; restaurants; safety; shoe usage; shoe wear; slip-resistant shoes; slips