Can shoe tip modifications on safety shoes reduce the braking forces in a trip-simulating, free-body shoe collision test?

Abstract

Tripping often results in injury, especially in occupational settings, leading to both loss in production and increased medical expenses. Trips may occur over small perturbations, as low as 5 mm, making it almost impossible to provide effective safety precautions in many occupational settings. This explorative study evaluated the mechanical effects of collisions applied to three novel trip-reducing elements placed on the tip of a safety shoe. The assessment was conducted using a new mechanical free-body collision test, to analyse how the braking forces were affected by the trip-reducing elements. The elements tested showed a decrease of up to 83% in peak braking force and 89% in braking impulse suggesting a possible reduction in the risk of fall after tripping. Still, in-vivo studies are warranted to test if such trip-reducing elements can minimise the risk of falls in settings mimicking real life.