Navigating SR and SRO Standards for Optimal Slip Resistance

Ensuring worker safety and maximizing operational efficiency are not mutually exclusive goals in a food manufacturing facility. We’ve discussed protective barriers, such as safety toe caps, and the fact that slips, trips, and falls are the number one source of injury in the workplace, resulting in costs that include medical expenses, lost wages, and potential product damage or recalls.

Historically, claims about the slip resistance of footwear could be made without a standardized assessment. Fortunately, the industry has established clear, objective consensus standards for measuring slip resistance, allowing safety professionals to compare products using the same yardstick.

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The Cost of Complacency: Why slip resistance matters

When employees are forced to walk cautiously on slippery surfaces (a behavior that we at Tingley refer to as the "penguin walk"), it leads to premature fatigue and decreased morale. An uncomfortable, distracted, or fatigued employee is less productive, and a drop in morale can increase employee turnover.

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An accident resulting from a slip and fall can necessitate an assessment by your safety team and lead to high costs. An average worker claim is around $50,000, and the resulting downtime or product destruction can be significant. Investing strategically in comfortable, compliant, and slip-resistant Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) shows a commitment to your staff, enhances safety programs, and improves overall facility well-being.

Understanding U.S. slip resistance standards

The U.S. standards for slip resistance ensure objective evaluation based on specific test methods outlined in ASTM F2413 (for safety toe footwear) and ASTM F3445 (for plain toe footwear).

The SR Rating (Slip Resistance)

The primary goal of the US slip resistance standards is to assess the minimum coefficient of friction during various stages of the walking gait.

1. Tested conditions: Footwear is assessed under controlled laboratory settings in both dry and wet conditions.
2. Gait assessment: The test focuses on critical moments during walking, primarily the forward heel slip (the first strike of the heel, which is often when falls occur) and the backward fore part (the final stage of the walking gate).
3. Performance criteria: To achieve the SR (slip-resistant) rating, the footwear must meet a minimum coefficient of friction of 0.4 in all four tested conditions (forward heel slip and backward fore part, under both dry and wet conditions).

The SRO Rating (Oily Slip Resistance)

As safety managers relayed feedback about real-world conditions, the ASTM committee put forward an amendment to the SR standard to address facilities that deal with specialized contaminants, such as oily surfaces.

1. Added condition: The SRO (Slip Resistant Oily/Wet) standard adds the necessary testing for the oily wet condition.
2. Performance criteria: Footwear must first meet the requirements of the SR condition. It must then meet the oily wet condition, which, being a much slipperier environment, uses a slightly lower minimum coefficient of friction: 0.33.

Verification and continuous improvement

Selecting the best footwear for your facility requires evaluating the environment, including the flooring (e.g., red quarry tile, concrete with epoxy), debris, and chemical makeup, especially in foot baths and boot scrubbers.

Regardless of whether you choose SR or SRO-compliant footwear, one critical step remains: We recommend you request third-party independent lab testing.

• Objective evidence: Tingley provides third-party testing certificates on all our slip-resistant and SRO footwear. This ensures that as a plant safety manager, you can compare the performance of different products objectively, or "apples to apples".
• Ongoing audits: Footwear programs should be continuously evaluated. An audit is necessary when new products become available, when facility processes change (e.g., a remodel or new line working), when internal or external regulations are updated (like the introduction of SRO standards), or, proactively, before an accident occurs.
• Employee buy-in: Regular conversations with line employees help determine if the slip resistance is working and if the soles are worn down, which signals the need for replacement. Employee engagement and buy-in are crucial for the long-term success of the footwear program.

Choosing footwear with the appropriate slip resistance rating (SR or SRO) for your food manufacturing environment is a key preventative measure. By understanding and utilizing these consensus standards, you eliminate the guesswork and ensure your strategic investment in PPE keeps your workers safe, comfortable, and productive. And thus, you’ll improve your commitment to food safety.

Think of the SR and SRO standards as the independent grading system for tires on a truck. Just as different truck tires are graded for optimal performance on dry asphalt versus icy roads (SR) or oil-slicked construction sites (SRO), these standards ensure that the 'tread' on your employees' boots is specifically proven to handle the unique, hazardous floor conditions present in your food processing environment.

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