Slip-resistant footwear reduces slips among National Health Service workers in England : a randomised controlled trial

Cockayne, S; Fairhurst, C; Liddle, M; Cunningham-Burley, R; Zand, M; Hewitt, C; Iles-Smith, HM; Green, L; Torgerson, DJ

Abstract

Objectives Assess the effectiveness of 5* GRIP-rated slip-resistant footwear in preventing slips in the workplace compared to usual footwear (control group).

Methods A multicentre, randomised controlled trial; 4553 National Health Service (NHS) staff were randomised 1:1 to the intervention group (provided with 5* GRIP-rated slip-resistant footwear) or the control group. The primary outcome of incidence rate of self-reported slips in the workplace over 14 weeks was analysed using a mixed-effects negative binomial model. Secondary outcome measures included incidence rate of falls from a slip, falls not from a slip, proportion of participants reporting a slip, fall or fracture and time to first slip and fall.

Results 6743 slips were reported: 2633 in the intervention group (mean 1.16 per participant, range 0 to 36) and 4110 in the control group (mean 1.80 per participant, range 0 to 83). There was a statistically significant reduction in slip rate in the intervention group relative to the control group (incidence rate ratio (IRR) 0.63, 95% CI 0.57 to 0.70, p<0.001). Statistically significant differences, in favour of the intervention group, were observed in falls from a slip (IRR 0.51, 95% CI 0.28 to 0.92, p=0.03), the proportion of participants who reported a slip (OR 0.58, 95% CI 0.50 to 0.66, p<0.001) or fall (OR 0.73, 95% CI 0.54 to 0.99, p=0.04) and time to first slip (HR 0.73, 95% CI 0.67 to 0.80, p<0.001).

Conclusions The offer and provision of 5* GRIP-rated footwear reduced slips in NHS staff in the workplace.

Trial registration number ISRCTN33051393.

Citation

Cockayne, S., Fairhurst, C., Liddle, M., Cunningham-Burley, R., Zand, M., Hewitt, C., …Torgerson, D. (2021). Slip-resistant footwear reduces slips among National Health Service workers in England : a randomised controlled trial. Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 78(7), 472-478. https://doi.org/10.1136/oemed-2020-106914

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Nov 25, 2020
• Online Publication Date: Jan 15, 2021
• Publication Date: Jun 14, 2021
• Deposit Date: Jan 20, 2021
• Publicly Available Date: Jan 20, 2021
• Journal: Occupational and Environmental Medicine
• Print ISSN: 1351-0711
• Electronic ISSN: 1470-7926
• Publisher: BMJ Publishing Group
• Volume: 78
• Issue: 7
• Pages: 472-478
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/oemed-2020-106914
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/oemed-2020-106914
• Related Public URLs: http://oem.bmj.com/
• Additional Information: Funders : National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Public Health;Health and Safety Executive (HSE); Projects : Slip-resistant footwear reduces slips among National Health Service workers in England: a randomised controlled trial.; Grant Number: 15/05/28