PROTECTIVE CLOTHING & WORKWEAR
AT THE FOREFRONT OF SAFETY FOOTWEAR
Simon Ash, UK Sales Manager at HAIX explores the history of safety shoes and offers tips on specifying the correct footwear for your workforce.
Safety footwear is an essential part of PPE that provides protection against risks such as slips and trips, sharp, moving or falling objects, electric and chemical exposure, poor weather conditions and musculoskeletal disorders. However, not all footwear is created equal.
GIVE SUBPAR FOOTWEAR THE BOOT It is important to get footwear right. Though the risk of not wearing safety footwear can be detrimental, the risk of wearing poor quality boots can be just as critical.
The current standard for safety footwear across Europe (EN ISO 20345:2011) requires all safety footwear to have toe protection against a 200 joule impact and a 15KN compression test; the equivalent to the amount of energy and weight it would take before breaking the toe region. There is no one- boot-fits-all rule, unfortunately. Not all safety shoes or boots will be ideal for all working environments. For this reason, employers need to ensure the boots purchased are fit for purpose and will protect workers against the risks they face. What are the key factors to consider for footwear?
THEN VS. NOW The history of safety boots can be traced back to the 20th century. Before this time, it was cheaper and faster to replace the injured workers than to introduce safety measures or provide personal protective equipment (PPE). It was the introduction of liability insurance costs that made larger corporations take notice and start focusing on protecting their workforces. Steel toe boots were invented in Germany at the end of World war II. They were originally designed for the military and built to stand the test of time offering durable and robust foot protection.
In 1970, the United States enacted the Occupational Safety and Health Act that aimed to improve working conditions and create safer environments for workers. The standard included the use of protective footwear for those working in situations that could pose a risk of foot injuries. Today in the UK, under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, wearing protective shoes or boots is a legal requirement in a number of industries such as construction or manufacturing. Employers have a duty to protect the ‘health, safety and welfare’ of all their employees at work, as well as others on their premises, ensuring the assessment and implementation of appropriate controls to manage potential risk and suitable provision of PPE.
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COMFORT Models designed with arch support help to stabilise feet and maintain an employee’s correct posture, reducing harmful effects of impact-related stresses when the foot strikes the ground. It is also advised to look for an easy lacing system so that the process of putting boots on and taking them off at the end of the day is quick and easy.
FOOT SHAPE The shape of the foot fluctuates throughout the day. Ideally, boots should be tried on in the afternoon (when feet are at their warmest) to determine an accurate size. This will ensure a comfortable fit throughout the working day.
QUALITY OVER CONVENIENCE Accidents are expensive. There are many hidden and uninsured costs that as the employer you will be liable for. There is a temptation to skimp and save money, but improper use of PPE that leads to an injury or fatality could mean substantial fines for the company, even imprisonment.
Budget safety footwear costs the manufacturer less to make which means features such as comfort, breathability and ankle support may not be high priority. With footwear you tend to get what you pay
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