Maria Peña

Title: Dynamic Coefficient of Fiction Testing at Two Light Rail Train Stations

Abstract:

Slip and fall injury incidents present a potential challenge in public transportationenvironments where pedestrian traffic is high, especially in areas of varying moisture levels. Thisstudy aimed to assess the slip resistance of select pedestrian ways in the Light Rail Transitstations of the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA), as well as the University ofWashington Stadium station, using a British Pendulum Tester to measure the dynamiccoefficient of friction (DCoF) under dry, damp, and wet environments. This involved a total oftwelve sites covering various floor types.A non-parametric aligned rank transform (ART) ANOVA analysis and other statisticaltests were used to describe the collected data.Analyses indicated that surface treatment as well as the presence of moisture weresignificantly related to traction performance (p <0.001). The untreated polished concrete as wellas the tile surface had a large reduction in slip resistance upon becoming wet, sometimes to alevel considered to have a high slip potential, whereas the treated surface, particularly theSparkle Tuff-coated concrete, had a high degree of slip resistance, wet or dry.From the Industrial Hygiene perspective, this report underlines the importance ofconsidering design controls early in the planning and construction process as a long-termprevention of slips leading to injury. While a slip-resistant surface can be achieved usingcommercially available products, the process of application itself may lead to exposure tochemicals, and this problem can largely be eliminated during the construction phase itself if theconcrete is treated in such a way as to provide a textured surface. This report may be ofassistance to Sound Transit in this respect.