Product category:
Building Industry Health and Safety
News Release from: Totectors UK | Subject: Safety footwear
Edited by the Buildingtalk Editorial
Team on 06 January 2005
You only get one pair of feet - so
protect them!
Ron Page, Product Development Manager at Totectors looks at the many factors that influence choice of safety footwear, most of which are governed by the working environment and risk assessment.
There are many factors that influence our choice of safety footwear, most of which are governed by the working environment and risk assessment Lets not forget however that the wearers performance requirements of safety boots and shoes, in most cases, have to exceed that of everyday footwear and in many respects even sports shoes
This article was originally published on Buildingtalk on 6 Aug 2004 at 8.00am (UK)
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Employees are compelled by health and safety legislation to wear Safety Footwear to protect their feet from injury.
This can often mean prolonged periods of wear of 10 - 12 hours a day and sometimes in harsh working conditions.
So in addition to the "safety features" incorporated in the products to protect your feet, manufacturers have to be sure not to overlook the primary comfort factors, such as fit, support, flexibility, weight, cushioning, insulation, and shock absorption.
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How do you define comfort? Primarily the shoe must fit well.
This means there should be no obvious pressure points or discomfort and provide cushioning and support when correctly fastened.
As the foot is a unique three-dimensional object which varies disproportionally in size and shape from one wearer to another it is important that manufacturers offer a range of sizes, shapes and fittings to suit all.
It is also important to note the upper materials and linings should be as soft and pliable as possible to cosset and conform to the individual foot shape, while still performing the vital function of protecting and supporting the foot.
Remember a shoe is one of the closest fitting garments that you wear and the old days of "breaking in yer boots" should remain where they belong - in history.
As it is important the shoes you wear are not too small, for understandable reasons of discomfort, it is also just as important that the shoes are not too big.
There should be sufficient room to wiggle your toes but not so much room in the body of the shoe that your foot slides back and forth when you move, as this can lead to calluses, abrasion and muscle fatigue as you try to keep the shoes from slipping around on your feet when walking.
Dont forget when you walk down a steep incline, if your foot slides forward your little piggies make contact with a very hard toecap.
In prolonged wear, badly fitting shoes can lead to pain and deformities in the foot.
I know this is stating the obvious but it is a misconception that "bigger is better" when buying safety footwear.
Construction, flexibility and weight are also important comfort factors as anything that creates a resistance to the natural mechanical action of walking can cause muscle fatigue.
If the sole is more flexible there is less resistance for the foot to overcome, making the walking action less tiring.
Safety footwear is essentially engineered for protection and therefore incorporates components such as steel toecaps and steel midsoles and is designed to be "heavy duty" ? this does not necessarily mean they have to be heavy weight.
The use of low-density midsoles and lightweight components such as composite toecaps can dramatically reduce the overall weight of the shoes.
(Imagine how tired your legs would get if you walked around in diving boots all day!).
Well needless to say every few grams that can be saved on lightweight components means less fatigue for your legs.
The sole of the shoe and particularly the heel should incorporate energy absorption to insulate the body from the shock waves caused by ground impact or heel strike.
Think of a trampoline effect - when your foot strikes the ground, the shoe needs to absorb that energy to give you a soft landing, thus preventing shock waves from travelling up into your body, then as you begin to lift the pressure of your weight off the shoe, it should recover, returning that compressed energy and giving you a bounce effect - literally putting a spring in your step.
By contrast however, if the sole of the shoe is too soft, this can make the muscles in your legs more tired because they have to work harder to produce the energy to propel you along.
(Think how tired your legs can get when walking long distances on a soft sandy beach ? plenty of shock absorption but no energy return.) "Dual-density" soles with a hard wearing, high-density outsole and shock absorbing low-density midsole give the wearer the benefits of insulating the foot from pressure points of uneven ground surfaces, cushioning, stability and energy absorption while maintaining lightweight and flexible characteristics.
Full insocks or "Footbeds" enhance underfoot comfort, their cushioning effect relieves localised pressure on the sole of your foot and their anatomical design helps give support by maintaining the foots correct posture in the shoe.
Be careful though when adding or replacing removable footbeds in safety shoes that you are not invalidating the manufacturers warranty, particularly with regard to anti-static properties and toecap impact and compression performance - the "survival space" inside the toecap can be reduced if you insert a thicker sock.
Always check with the manufacturer or your supplier for their recommended replacement insocks! Sweat management is also a key comfort factor, because of prolonged wear periods.
Reputable safety shoe manufacturers therefore are always careful to select only leathers and linings that are breathable and offer good moisture absorption and desorption properties.
However it is better for general foot hygiene, where possible, to have at least 2 pairs of safety shoes and alternate these on a regular basis, particularly if they are worn all day , every day, to help prevent the build-up of bacteria that proliferates in damp footwear.
The "safety features" of all CE marked shoes have to be tested and certified to a given performance requirement specified by the European Committee for Standardisation (CEN), which shows compliance with the basic health and safety requirements of the PPE Directive 89/686/EEC.
These features include - impact and compression resistance of toecaps, penetration resistant soles, antistatic properties, water and chemical resistance, heat and oil resistant soles, insulation against heat and cold, heel energy absorption, cut resistance, electrically insulating and conductive footwear and not forgetting of course the minimum performance requirements for all materials used.
Now with the introduction of the new European Standard for Safety Footwear EN ISO 20345:2004 in August, this also includes things like ergonomics, slip resistance and ankle protection.
So just remember when someone offers you that "cheap" footwear deal, the advice of an old cobbler - "You only ever get one pair of feet in this life, so look after them!".
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