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Slip and Fall Analysis
In Canada, injuries to people, 65 years and older, due to falls cost the health care system over $3 billion annually. In the U.S., that number is estimated at $75 to 100 billion.
Our office has been dealing with an increasing number of cases resulting from slip and falls, trip and falls, and falls due to improper stair construction or maintenance.
Slips, trips, and falls occur most often as a result of liquid contaminated walking surfaces, improper stair construction or conspicuity, loose or ill placed rugs and carpets, as well as irregularities and sudden elevation changes in walking surfaces.
FDi's research into this field is ongoing. For example, recently published findings indicate that most of the presently used test methods for assessing the tractive properties between a shoe's sole and a liquid contaminated walking surface, inadequately model the kinematics of the human gait. Due to this, these test results can erroneously indicate that a shoe's traction on a wet surface is better than on the same surface when dry. A finding that flies in the face of common sense.
We have an English XL
that we use to test the traction of various surfaces. It much more accurately models the way a human foot strikes a walking surface and gives much more accurate wet traction values than traditional methods provide.
FDi has worked for both Plaintiff and Defence parties in slip and fall litigation and we have also assisted facilities managers by testing their flooring, identifying any existing traction problems and recommending cost effective solutions. We recently tested two large municipal aquatic centers. For one facility we assisted their managers in assessing and then improving the poor slip resistance of the existing pool deck and surroundings and for the other we worked with the building developer before construction to determine which flooring material would provide the best traction. |
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Traffic Accident Reconstruction
Slip and Falls
Crash & Event Data Recorder ("Black Box") Downloads and Interpretation
Bio-Mechanics
Winter Road Maintenance Analysis
Product Design
Product Liability
Engineering Simulations/Animations
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