Replicating cheese maturing warehouse conditions in laboratory slip resistance testing: identifying safety footwear for a specific working environment

This laboratory study assessed the slip resistance of seven safety shoes certified under ISO 20345:2021 in conditions mimicking a cheese maturing warehouse with floors contaminated by smear brine. Measurements of dynamic coefficient of friction (DCOF) were performed on polyurethane and tile surfaces, demonstrating that footwear with wider heels, larger contact areas, and lower local pressure exhibited higher slip resistance. Regression analyses indicated significant predictive relationships between heel width and contact area on slip resistance on the polyurethane surface, with notable differences in performance across shoe models. As practical guidance, this study found that the shoe with the widest heel (98 mm) and largest contact area (3716 mm2) exhibited the highest slip resistance among the tested shoes. Additionally, a positive association between shoe price and slip resistance was observed, suggesting that the tested higher-priced shoes had better slip resistance characteristics.