Fall-related injuries affect 140,000 workers annually, costing $10 billion in Workers’ Compensation. Flooring design could prevent half of these incidents. However, current methods fail to predict friction, hindering innovation. This R21 project funded by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) aims to measure small-scale floor topography and develop a mechanics-based friction model. Aim 1 assesses topography’s impact on shoe-floor friction and Aim 2 creates a predictive model across length scales. This research aims to improve workplace safety through evidence-based high-friction flooring development.