Industrial workplaces have proven to be full of hazards that can be harmful to people working in them. A wide range of workplace hazards, especially in the construction and industrial sector, make safety work shoes necessary. Whether it's danger from heavy objects falling on your feet, or wet floors causing you to slip, work safety shoes with the right type of sole can prevent any workplace hazard related injuries to happen. Additionally, recent changes to legislation means that all PPE, including safety boots are to be provided to the worker at no cost. But with so many different types of safety footwear available, working out the exact pair you need for your workplace can be difficult. With that said, you need to take into account several factors besides slip resistance, such as durability, comfort and other safety features required, like steel toe protection.
Even the Health Safety Environment Australia suggests that your final decision may have to be a compromise. Safety footwear, should only be used as a last resort, when other practical or reasonable measures have been taken to manage all workplace risks involved. Before buying work footwear, refer to your most recent risk assessment for the workplace you're shopping for, or carry a workplace risk assessment if one doesn't exist. The safety footwear you buy should meet legal standards, is used properly by the wearer and is the right type for the worker/environment/job. There are several popular brands that provide high-quality protective footwear, including Steel Blue Clothing, Blundstone, Hard Yakka and CAT. These brands provide a lot of value and are tailored for heavy-duty use.
The footwear can come with various different types of protection, the most notable being:
- Toe Protection - Your toes are one of the most vulnerable parts of your body, especially in industrial and construction workplaces. The toe protection should withstand an impact of at least 200 joules. Joules is the measurement unit of energy and this standard is set to 200 with a purpose. A heavy object falling from a lower height will have a lot less energy than a lighter object dropping from much higher. Besides impact, the toe area should withstand a resting mass of over 1 tonne. Most people have heard of steel toe cap boots, but the protection isn't always steel. There are non-metallic toe cap boots from Steel Blue Clothing, for example that offer just as much protection but are lighter.
- Antistatic Protection - Climate factors, seating materials and clothing can build up a static charge of electricity in your body. Footwear made with special type of materials can insulate the body, preventing charge from building up. This is important because if you touch something, the charge will rush from your body causing a spark and a potential shock. Antistatic footwear significantly reduces this effect. However, this doesn't offer complete protection for exposure to explosives work and electronics, for which you need Electro-Static Protection.
- Midsole Penetrating Protection - Sharp objects on the ground are a huge risk factor not only in the workplace, but also in many outdoor situations. Midsole protection will protect against nails and other objects. In order to meet this standard, the shoes should be able to resist at least 1100N of penetration force. Midsole protection can come in one of three ways - an aluminium or stainless steel insert in the sole, or a Kevlar insole. Kevlar and aluminium inserts are the lightest and most flexible options, and they cover the largest area of the foot. Kevlar insoles also provide better thermal insulation.
Besides ensuring the safety boots meet the required legal and workplace standards, it's important to make sure they fit the wearer well. Poorly fitted footwear can result in corns, bunions, hammertoes, calluses and numerous other foot problems. Additionally, improperly fitted footwear may fail to prevent injury. That being said, the upper part of the boot should be made from breathable man-made fabrics or leather with plastic coating to repel water and make the shoe easy to clean. The lining should be a breathable material to keep your feet fresh, and the linings need to be seam-free and smooth. The toe area should be deep enough to allow your toes to wriggle and prevent rubbing. This is very important when using shoes with protective toecaps especially. If the footwear is padded and properly fitted, you shouldn't be able to feel the toecaps whatsoever. The insole should be preferably be removable to enable easy insertion of orthoses or padding. The heel of the shoe should fit your foot snugly, preventing your heel from slipping out. The sole should be flexible and strong, and feature shock absorption to cushion the jolts of moving around hard surfaces. The material should be slip resistant PVC, polyurethane or rubber. Lastly, the fastenings should be Velcro, laces or buckles in order to secure your feet inside the shoe.
