Occupational Injury Prevention
Postural Control & Fall Prevention
Postural Control & Fall Prevention
Predicting Slips during Ladder Climbing: Novel Methods for Assessing Shoe-Rung Friction
Funded by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), this research aims to identify the individual, design, and environmental factors contributing to slips from ladders. Aim 1 quantifies how environmental factors influence frictional requirements of climbing. Aim 2 determines the individual factors that influence frictional requirements of climbing. Aim 3 will quantify the impact of ladder rung design factors on friction between shoes and rungs. Aim 4 will develop and validate a model for predicting ladder slips based on available and required friction during climbing.
People
Graduate Student
Year Graduated: 2025
Sarah Griffin
PhD Candidate
PhD Candidate
After HMBL
University of Washington
Graduate Student
Year Graduated: 2025
Violet Williams
PhD Candidate
PhD Candidate
After HMBL
Pursuing Employment
Undergraduate Student
Year Graduated: 2025
Jaspreet Chera
After HMBL
Pursuing Employment
Undergraduate Student
Year Graduated: 2026
Isabella Hsia
After HMBL
University of Pittsburgh B.S. Bioengineering
Undergraduate Student
Year Graduated: 2024
Elizabeth Ibata-Arens
After HMBL
Northwestern University M.S. Prosthetics and Orthotics
Undergraduate Student
Year Graduated: 2025
Jared Kolarcik-Schmitt
After HMBL
Marshall University, MD
Publications
Peer-Reviewed Article
2024
Applied Ergonomics
Effects of extension ladder fly configuration on climbing safety
Peer-Reviewed Article
Peer-Reviewed Article
2023
Journal of Biomechanics
During roof-to ladder transitions, walk-through extensions modify required friction direction
Peer-Reviewed Article
2023
Journal of Biomechanics
Correlations between reach, lean and ladder tipping risk
Peer-Reviewed Article
2022
Applied Ergonomics
Situational factors that influence overreaching on a ladder during a gutter clearing task among older adults
