More information on safety footwear manufacturers >
T-Safety supply professional and honest service.
Currently, there is no single accepted international standard for protective safety footwear. But many countries recognise similar industrial footwear standards that keep workers safe across construction, mining, and other high-risk industries. These include a minimum 200 joules protection, toe guards, and chemical resistance among other key aspects.
So why is safety footwear, safety footwear guide information and safe PPE practice so important for industry sectors? What makes good safety shoes? And what sort of risks do safety boots protect a worker from?
When thinking about safety shoes, you must consider industry safety ratings, determine hazards in the work environment, and ensure all PPE is maintained under acceptable quality control.
Safety footwear is a fundamental element of many workers PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) that is often overlooked and associated with a &#;that-should-fit&#; mentality. There are two main safety features to consider when determining what makes good safety shoes: protection against workplace health and safety risks, and also personal foot health from an orthopaedic perspective.
In high-risk working environments, safety footwear must provide an adequate level of protection against falling objects and slippery surfaces, among other risks. Good safety boots and PPE must make sure the worker is comfortable whilst working, as well as offer assurance and protection.
Good footwear also links to good foot health. We forget how important our feet are, only appreciating foot health when it&#;s too late. Most orthopaedic aches and pains can be easily fixed by looking at the footwear being used. Look after workers from top to bottom, starting at the toes, and you&#;ll be amazed at what difference good boots/shoes can make.
With decent safety footwear in place, good foot health will follow. Professional fittings and knowledgeable manufacturing ensure boots and shoes are made to an acceptable standard. Removable insoles, water-resistant panels, and composite or steel toe cap features are just some examples of elements required in industrial and occupational footwear for safe work practice.
Whether you are in mining or construction, environmental monitoring or on the factory floor, safety footwear PPE is a well needed procedure for both health and safety.
Looking at the standards and ratings is a simple way to measure how &#;good&#; safety footwear is and necessary to meet industry rules and regulations. Footwear test methods are completed in controlled laboratories by manufacturers to guarantee and verify compliance of the boots and safety shoes. While there is not a globally recognised standard, each region does use a similar system that considers the same aspects.
These safety standards provide a benchmark for manufacturers to meet in order to produce and sell Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for occupational protection. All safety footwear is tested against this standard to ensure the quality and safety of the product before going out to sites and workplaces.
Standard EN ISO Explained
EN ISO may look complicated but, when broken down, comprises the specific basic requirements needed for footwear to meet industry standards.
This code is followed by the year the standard was updated: BS EN ISO : is a currently recognised standard. The latest updates include slip resistance testing methods, along with the 200 joule impact-resistance of EN ISO :. Other minimum requirements include toe protection, as a steel cap or other durable materials; 15KN compression test, equivalent to 1.5 tonnes resting on the toe area; and an oil-resistant outer sole.
This all falls in line with the Safety Basic (SB) level of protection and standard for safety footwear protects workers from falling objects, electrical conductivity, and other industrial and occupational hazards.
Additional Codes and Abbreviations
Some footwear have additional safety features that display separate codes and abbreviations along with the industry standard. These are a greater guide to safety shoes:
In addition to SB protection are more specific and specialised ratings that are suitable for a particular role. These &#;S-Ratings&#; are a combination of the abbreviations mentioned above and all have SB Safety Basic qualities as a minimum:
Along with these additional types of safety-ratings are specific codes for anti-slip attributes. These have all been tested for slip resistance under different conditions:
Slipping is one of the highest causes of injuries in the workplace, along with trips and falls. Correct PPE distribution can reduce this risk for workers.
Post BREXIT Safety Standards
It is important to be on the front foot of PPE safety standards. As the United Kingdom leaves the EU, a lot of aspects for some industries will be changing along with Brexit.
BSI and the UK Government will be working closely together to maintain a high standard for workplace safety. Brexit and product safety should be considered and closely monitored over the next months as the transition continues. BSI will continue to influence post-Brexit trade and standards for consumers, environmental and labour.
EN ISO : is currently under review and will be replaced by ISO/DIS specifications.
Identifying Work Place Risks
The first step in safety boots or industrial footwear selection is to conduct a hazard assessment of the workplace environment. A hazard assessment, or risk assessment, is extremely important for any workplace and should not be overlooked or rushed.
The type of safety shoes you choose will depend on the hazards to which the worker is exposed to.
Sources of risk and hazards to the foot can include, but are not limited to:
Exposure to these hazards without appropriate PPE and safety boots in a work environment can result in significant accidents and injuries. Broken bones, burns, or in extreme cases, amputation and loss of the use of the foot and lower leg are just some of the risks for workers without proper care and attention. There are then long term health conditions and overall foot health to be factored into the decision.
Whether you need oil resistant or slip-resistant outsole features, or heat resistant and energy absorption qualities, the levels of protection required need careful consideration. Assessing what the specific risks are will determine what type of boot or shoe is needed for the job.
Types of Safety Shoes
If you are looking for more details, kindly visit ppe safety shoes.
There is a whole range of safety shoes, safety boots, and safety trainers, meeting an EN ISO standard, ready for high-risk industries. When picking out safety footwear, you must make sure to consider the following:
EH safety trainers and footwear are designed with specialised outer sole layers to provide a level of protection from electrical shock in the workplace. This is for environments where the wearer may accidentally step on a live wire or charged electrical equipment.
If the work environment will have the worker intentionally come into contact with live electricity, then EH footwear should not be worn but rather CD or static dissipative safety footwear. The anti-static feature allows static electricity to transfer from the wearer to the walking surface. This will protect sensitive electronic devices and equipment from a static electric discharge that could be highly damaging.
Toe Cap Safety Boot
Protective toe caps are fitted to some safety boot designs to provide impact and compression resistance. Traditionally, these have been toe protection steel toe caps, however, there is now a whole range of materials available for toe protection.
Aluminium types are a good lightweight alternative, and, more recently, plastic or composite non-metallic materials have entered the marketplace for industrial boots. Whereas, composite toe cap protection is ideal for those working in environments under extreme temperatures, both hot and cold. The non-metallic material does not conduct heat, cold, or electricity, making them safe and reliable.
Rigger Boots
Often described as the real devoted boot of industrial footwear, a Rigger Boot is a pull-on safety boot for general-purpose work. Rigger Boots were originally standard issue to workers on the offshore oil rigs in the North Sea, which is where the name comes from.
As far as PPE goes, this boot type is considered basic and lacks ankle protection and support. However, they do provide a decent level of cold insulation and protection from water penetration.
Along with meeting safety standards for safety footwear, you must ensure the shoes are a good fit.
Poorly fitted shoes can lead to several health problems including bunions, blisters, back issues, heel pain, calluses, and more. Professional and well fitted boots will avoid injuries.
PPE and safety footwear in the workplace is a must and it is important everyone understands. Communicating the demands of the job and the conditions to worker&#;s is an essential step necessary for a safe working environment.
Employer Motivation for Safety Shoe Health and Safety
There are several reasons why employers need to keep on top of Health and Safety standards and the safety boots within the workforce.
FAQ
What is the standard for safety shoes?
Standard EN ISO determines the basic requirements for commercial safety footwear. Safety boots and shoes that meet the EN ISO standard protect the user from crushing, bumps, falling objects, sharp and rough surfaces, varying temperatures, and substances, such as fuel, oil, chemicals, and so on. There is no globally accepted set standard for safety footwear, however, EN ISO is widely recognised across Europe as the European Standard. The United States uses ASTM, Canada uses CSA, and Singapore uses SS513 &#; all are very similar in basic requirements for commercial use footwear.
It is generally thought that good safety boots should include a solid but flexible sole and mid sole for shock absorption and slip resistance, toe protection in either steel toe caps or a composite toe cap equivalent, and durable outer layer materials for penetration resistance. Anti-static and conductivity qualities are also considered good characteristics for reliable safety footwear. The specific features of the shoes must match the workplace environment as solid PPE.
Can I wear my own safety shoes at work?
The Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations states that if a risk has been identified and cannot be controlled in any other way, protective equipment must be provided by the employer, including footwear. Your own safety shoes will have to meet the set recognised standards for the job environment that you will be working in. There is no pair of safety boots that is suitable for every workplace.
Health and safety law only requires safety footwear to be used when there is a real risk of injury and harm for the employee. Often employers adopt policies requiring the wearing of safety footwear at all times.
Where can you use safety shoes?
Safety shoes can be worn in an assortment of workplaces and spaces. If you are working with heavy objects or around machinery then it is recommended to wear boots with toe cap protection. For outdoors work, insulation and anti-slip qualities will be favourable. No one shoe is suitable for every possible working condition. Some sports and recreational activities also require appropriate footwear to maintain a safe practice.
More information on safety footwear manufacturers >
When considering the type of safety shoes you need for the job, it is important to look at the hazards that may be present at your worksite.
If your workplace has any of the following hazards, then you will need to require protective footwear:
Here are some other questions to consider when looking for the correct safety shoe:
Will your employees be on their feet for long periods of time? A cushioned insole or midsole will help absorb shock to provide support and prevent foot pain and back aches.
Will your employees be working in cold conditions? Insulated work boots are a must if you work outside or are exposed to other cold conditions.
The company is the world’s best dust proof goggles supplier. We are your one-stop shop for all needs. Our staff are highly-specialized and will help you find the product you need.