Combining safety with style SAFETY FOOTWEAR
I
f the thought of protective footwear conjures up images of heavy, ugly, stiff and uncomfortable work boots, think again! As Susan Peverelli, National Sales Manager for Timberland PRO®, explains to Footwear Today Editor,
Cheryl Taylor, the latest products are stylish and comfortable, yet they make no compromises in terms of the protection they provide.
Strange though it may sound, employers are legally obliged to think about their employees’ feet! The Health and Safety at Work Act requires employers to protect the well being of their staff while they are at work, and the Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Regulations dictate that employers must evaluate the need for PPE and, where it is found to be necessary, supply the appropriate items. In short, these items of legislation and many others mean that if protective
footwear is found to be necessary, the employer must supply it and must also make every practicable effort to ensure that it used. But, what needs to be considered when choosing footwear to meet these obligations? The best advice is to opt for products that incorporate the latest developments. Those from Timberland PRO are manufactured under an exclusive licensing agreement by Sperian Protection in Europe. Let’s have a look at some of these developments and at why they are so important. Energy-absorbing toecaps are a key feature of almost all protective
footwear but, particularly when used outdoors, conventional steel toecaps can be cold and uncomfortable. There are also cases where steel-free footwear is needed – where the wearer may have to pass through security scanners, for example, or where the risk of sparking associated with steel is unacceptable as it might lead to an explosion. For these reasons, safety footwear is now available with toecaps that are non-metallic but are at least as strong as their steel counterparts.
Anti-perforation measures for the sole of the shoe or boot are also
essential and can now be implemented with high-tenacity non-metallic fibres that are lightweight and allow a high degree of flexibility, rather than with metal inserts. Other features of the footwear, such as efficient waterproofing and hydrophobic laces that are easy to tie and untie even when wet, make important contributions to the provision of effective protection, and should also be taken into account. In addition to the level of protection provided there are, however, two
other factors that it is essential to consider when choosing protective footwear – comfort and styling. As has been mentioned, employers not only have a duty to supply
protective footwear, but also to ensure that it is used. And, to be brutally honest, if the footwear supplied is ugly or uncomfortable, staff will find every possible reason for not using it. Fortunately, leading suppliers like Timberland PRO now place great emphasis on both comfort and styling. Comfort is assured by using the best possible materials, such as premium
full-grained oiled leather for uppers. This combines flexibility and durability with robustness and attractive appearance. Features such as special linings that are breathable and warm yet waterproof further enhance comfort for the wearer, as do vegetal leather insoles that help to keep feet dry. Design features like wide tongues and high ergonomic leather gussets also increase user appeal. Footwear should, of course, appeal to all users but until recently, most
designs were focussed on the needs of male wearers. This situation has now been redressed with the introduction of products like the new Timberland PRO Ladies Trainer. Shoes of this type are specifically tailored to fit the contours of women’s
feet, and they typically combine the use of materials like soft leather and mesh fabric to provide enhanced breathability and flexibility. Advanced design and manufacturing techniques mean that the best types are light in weight, yet offer excellent protection including anti-slip and anti-abrasion properties, as well as contact resistance to temperatures as high as 300ºC. Protective footwear no longer has to mean unappealing boots that the
Comment from David Elsley The Timberland 6201037 Outdoor Athletic Safety Trainer is
extremely comfortable. It is lightweight, breathable, flexible and has excellent grip. The insole is removeable for different insoles if required and the toe box has enough room to do this. The look of the trainer means it can be worn anywhere, it looks and feels like conventional footwear. Every claim these safety trainers make is true and my feet say a big thank you.
24 • FOOTWEAR TODAY • JUNE/JULY 2011
wearer can’t wait to remove at the end of the day. The best of modern products deliver exceptional levels of protection, yet they are at least as comfortable to wear as everyday shoes bought on the high street, and they are available in styles with universal appeal. Truly, therefore, it is now possible to combine safety with style.
Sperian Protection UK Limited Tel: +44 (0) 1256 693 200
uksales@sperianprotection.com www.timberlandpro.co.uk
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