S. Chiou et al., Evaluation of workers' perceived sense of slip and effect of prior knowledge of slipperiness during task performance on slippery surfaces, AIHAJ, 61(4), 2000, pp. 492-500
Forty healthy industrial workers (age: 41.0 +/- 14.9 years) were tested for
postural stability for three simulated tasks: (1) standing upright; (2) ra
pid trunk movement; and (3) lateral reach during lifting. These tasks were
performed on four levels of slippery surfaces under different environmental
lighting with new or workers' own old shoes. Prior to postural stability t
ests, each subject was given the opportunity to assess the surface slipperi
ness that he or she would encounter in the subsequent postural stability te
sts. A perceived sense of slip (PSOS) scale was administrated immediately a
fter each test to determine subjects' PSOS. Subjects' postural sway and ins
tability during task performance was determined by using a strain gauge typ
e force platform. Results from this study indicate that subjects who were c
autious in assessing surface slipperiness had less postural instability dur
ing task performance. Subjects could perceive the likely slips due to the c
hange in task (p=0.0001) and surface slipperiness (p=0.0001). The PSOS scal
e is reproducible, easy to use, and provides a simple way to evaluate poten
tial slip hazards in the workplace. Results from this study should aid unde
rstanding of the factors critical to maintaining postural stability on slip
pery surfaces, and will help to develop guidelines for safety training and
identify slip hazards in the workplace.