HEALTH & SAFETY
AT THE FOREFRONT OF SAFETY FOOTWEAR
T
By Simon Ash, UK sales manager, HAIX he history of safety boots can be traced
back to the 20th century. Before this time it was 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. Invented at the end of World War II, steel toe boots originated in Germany, and were designed for the military, 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 workers that work in situations that could pose a risk to 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 like 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.
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 (MSDs. Foot injuries can be debilitating, resulting in workers needing to take time off work. However, not all footwear is created equal.
so that the process of putting boots on and taking them off at the end of the day is quick and easy.
GIVE SUBPAR FOOTWEAR THE be liable for. There is a temptation to skimp and 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?
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
FA
QUALITY OVER CONVENIENCE Accidents are expensive. There are many hidden and uninsured costs that as the employer you will
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 for. Budget boots have a shorter lifespan and will need to be replaced more often, whereas making the investment in high quality boots could see you through for ten years – still suitably equipped with a good level of protection. In order to avoid an unhappy (and at-risk) workforce, try involving them in the PPE buying process, taking into account their preferences. Ask your workers about their current PPE, what it is they like and don’t like about it and show them the options you are thinking of purchasing. Having this conversation and giving them a choice may make them more likely to accept it, and will also give them a sense of empowerment in that they’ve contributed to the selection process.
Haix
www.haix.xo.uk FACTORY&HANDL NGSOLUT ONS | OC TOBER 2019 ORY&HANDLINGSOLI UTIONSI 51
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