THE INFLUENCE OF OUTSOLE OIL RESISTANCE ON SLIP RESISTANCE CHARACTERISTICS IN WINTER CONDITIONS

摘要

Oil resistance of outsoles is defined as an obligatory requirement for professional footwear in European standards. Based on this requirement, non-oil resistant outsole materials that have been considered to be more slip resistant in winter conditions than oil resistant materials can't be used as outsoles in professional footwear. The aim of this study was to find out whether there is a difference in slip resistance characteristics between oil resistant and non-oil resistant outsoles, and therefore a need to change the CEN standards in case of oil resistance. The Portable Slip Simulator was used to measure slip resistance of different outsole materials in simulated winter conditions. According to the results, oil resistant outsoles showed poorer slip resistance characteristics, and therefore the current European standards for professional footwear should be altered in order to make oil resistance as an additional requirement.