Slip-resistant footwear to keep commercial fishers safe on wet, icy decks
Official title: Enhancing Safety in Commercial Fishing Through Advanced Slip-Resistant Footwear Development
Funded at George Mason University · NIH-11177292 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new outsole made from a special material will be tested to help prevent slips for people working on fishing boats.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | George Mason University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Fairfax, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $671,793 |
| NIH project number | 1U01OH012886-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11177292 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are active commercial fishers who wear common fishing boots and work on boats with icy or oily decks.
✕Less likely to help
Fishermen who do not experience slip hazards or who do not use the tested footwear may not experience direct benefits.
What this research studies
This project aims to reduce slip-and-fall injuries among commercial fishers by developing and testing a high-friction outsole for fishing boots. Researchers will survey 200 fishermen to understand what boots they wear and what slippery surfaces they encounter, then select about 10 popular boots for testing. They will measure slip resistance in icy, oily, and other challenging conditions using both machine tests and real-life-style testing with participants. The best-performing outsole will be evaluated for integration into existing footwear options used at sea. If successful, the new boots could lower injury risk and improve safety on deck.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the new outsole could significantly reduce slips and related injuries for commercial fishers.
How similar studies have gone: Previous high-friction footwear studies in other industries show promise, but this specific fishing-boot application is novel.
Where this research is happening
-
George Mason University
Fairfax, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bagheri, Shaghayegh — George Mason University
- Study coordinator: Bagheri, Shaghayegh
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.