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Visually based perceptions of slipperiness: Underlying cues, consistency and relationship to coefficient of friction

Visually based perceptions of slipperiness: Underlying cues, consistency and relationship to... If walkers can anticipate surface conditions, they can adjust their gait to help reduce the risk of a slip. This study investigated visual cues to slipperiness. Thirty-one participants made visually based judgements about 37 different floor surfaces. These judgements included ratings of slipperiness, reflectiveness, texture, traction, light/dark, likelihood of slipping, cautious intent as well as relative slipperiness. Correlational and regression analyses indicated that while reflectiveness is the predominant visual cue in forming judgements of slipperiness (r = 0.73; p < 0.05), texture and traction were also highly correlated with perceived slipperiness. Furthermore, participants were consistent in slipperiness judgements over time (r = 0.76; p < 0.05) and response measures and a significant relationship was observed between visual cues and coefficient of friction (COF) (r ranged from 0.16 to 0.58; all p < 0.05). Subjective ratings and measured COF, taken as a composite measure of slipperiness, may provide safety professionals with an improved indicator of ‘higher risk’ surface conditions. The results indicate that people rely on visual cues to judge slipperiness, that they do so consistently and that subjective ratings are related to measured COF. These results have implications for the measurement of slipperiness as well as the design of floor surfaces to be protective against slips and falls. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Ergonomics Taylor & Francis

Visually based perceptions of slipperiness: Underlying cues, consistency and relationship to coefficient of friction

Lesch, Mary F.; Chang, Wen-Ruey; Chang, Chien-Chi
Ergonomics , Volume 51 (12): 11 – Dec 1, 2008
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References (23)

Publisher
Taylor & Francis
Copyright
Copyright Taylor & Francis Group, LLC
ISSN
1366-5847
eISSN
0014-0139
DOI
10.1080/00140130802558979
pmid
19034787
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

If walkers can anticipate surface conditions, they can adjust their gait to help reduce the risk of a slip. This study investigated visual cues to slipperiness. Thirty-one participants made visually based judgements about 37 different floor surfaces. These judgements included ratings of slipperiness, reflectiveness, texture, traction, light/dark, likelihood of slipping, cautious intent as well as relative slipperiness. Correlational and regression analyses indicated that while reflectiveness is the predominant visual cue in forming judgements of slipperiness (r = 0.73; p < 0.05), texture and traction were also highly correlated with perceived slipperiness. Furthermore, participants were consistent in slipperiness judgements over time (r = 0.76; p < 0.05) and response measures and a significant relationship was observed between visual cues and coefficient of friction (COF) (r ranged from 0.16 to 0.58; all p < 0.05). Subjective ratings and measured COF, taken as a composite measure of slipperiness, may provide safety professionals with an improved indicator of ‘higher risk’ surface conditions. The results indicate that people rely on visual cues to judge slipperiness, that they do so consistently and that subjective ratings are related to measured COF. These results have implications for the measurement of slipperiness as well as the design of floor surfaces to be protective against slips and falls.

Journal

Ergonomics – Taylor & Francis

Published: Dec 1, 2008

Keywords: perceived slipperiness; visual cues; coefficient of friction; slips

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