New SATRA slip test initiative

Accidents due to slipping remain a major cause of injury, both at work and in the home. SATRA has responded to these statistics by introducing two new versions of its slip resistance test for footwear. The move is designed to ensure that the most up-to-date advice is available to its members worldwide, especially since slip injuries can lead to significant cost in terms of compensation claims. SATRA has been researching pedestrian slip resistance for more than three decades and its team of experts offer unrivalled experience and practical advice. They have devised a new version of SATRA's own test method for everyday footwear * SATRA TM144: 2004 * and this is now being used to check if soles are liable to slip on a variety of surfaces. SATRA also chaired the technical committee responsible for defining the new harmonised European standard EN 13287 for slip resistance of safety footwear. As a Notified Body, SATRA carries out this test on footwear products which need to be CE marked against the Personal Protective Equipment Directive. Both versions of the test are accredited by UKAS * the UK Accreditation Service * and use the unique SATRA built slip rig, STM602. SATRA is the only test lab in Europe to achieve UKAS accreditation for both these tests. Deputy chief executive Richard Turner says: 'SATRA is unique. Not only do our laboratories provide test data to the highest levels of accuracy, but we can also interpret the results to give our clients guidance on the practical implications of our test. Perhaps, most importantly, we can give expert guidance on how to improve slip resistance, say by altering the sole tread pattern.' However, he warns, 'companies should be wary of using laboratories with little or no experience in slip resistance testing or who use outdated or unproven test methods * particularly in view of the critical safety issues associated with the subject.'