Personal Protective Equipment – Footwear Protection / Worker Safety Shoes
Safety Shoes
Safety shoes and boots are durable footwear with a protective re-enforced toe which helps protects the foot against falling debris, compression and now with the majority of safety footwear fitted with a mid-sole plate to protect from under foot punctures, they really are designed for optimum safety. They are normally worn in and around a construction site or industrial setting and they very often have steel as their toe cap however nowadays there are more styles which use composite materials. All safety boots come with markings to which indicate their international standards and levels of protection from impact, electric shock to chemical hazards. Back in the 1970’s safety boots were seen as the footwear amongst skinheads and punks, however nowadays it seems they are strictly for work-wear and not fashion wear.
Different Styles of Safety Shoes
There is a huge range of safety footwear on the market nowadays so choosing the right one can be a bit of a daunting task. Metatarsal Safety Shoes offer foot protection where it is needed most with a protective guard. The metatarsal bones in your feet form two arches, one in the center of your foot and the other under the ball of your foot; these are extremely delicate bones so keeping them protected is essential.
Safety Standards:
Safety footwear is split into several different categories. Each category has an identification code; all footwear must be marked with the relevant code. It must also comply with the EC Directive for Personal Protective Equipment and meet the necessary requirements of the European standards.
Here are the New European Standards for Safety Footwear–
EN-ISO 20344:2011 – Personal Protective Equipment
EN-ISO 20345:2011 – Personal Protective Equipment- Safety Footwear
EN-ISO 20347:2007 – Personal Protective Equipment- Occupational Footwear
EN-ISO 13287:2006 – Personal Protective Equipment- Slip Resistant
EN-ISO 15090:2012 – Personal Protective Equipment- Footwear for Firemen
EN-ISO 17249:2004 – Personal Protective Equipment- Cut Resistant
EN-ISO 20349:2010 – Personal Protective Equipment- Thermal Risks and Welding
Occupational Safety Footwear Protection Class
The work shoes are identified according to an alphanumeric code that indicates the European safety regulations to which they respond. Here are the characteristics of the main classifications:
SB (Safety Basic)
Toe protection
The basic standard for safety boots, safety shoes and safety trainers. Where footwear has an SB rating, that means it can absorb impact to the toe region up to 200-joules, without breaking. You can find out more about options for toecap protection in this blog comparing the protective qualities of steel and plastic.
S1 / S1P
Antistatic, oil-resistant and energy absorption
As well as the basic toe protection offered by SB footwear, the S1 rating means safety shoes or safety boots are also resistant to fuel oil, offer anti-static protection and have energy absorption in the heel. If a P also appears next to the initials S1 i.e., S1P, this means that inside the shoe there is also a special anti-puncture insole.
S2
Prevents water penetration
Safety boots, shoes or trainers rated S2 offer the same protection as those rated S1, with the addition of being water resistant, preventing liquids from penetrating the upper.
S3
Midsole penetration resistance
Safety footwear designated S3 offers the same level of protection as S2, but also protects against midsole penetration by sharp objects. Find out more about how the sole of safety footwear protects your feet in this blog looking at the composition of a safety shoe.
Additional safety ratings
All the above designations may be combined with others to indicate the presence of additional safety features. For instance, a safety boot rated SB-P would have SB-standard toe protection, with the additional feature of a penetration-resistant midsole. Likewise, a safety shoe rated S1-P would offer toe protection, oil-resistance, antistatic protection, energy absorption, and have a penetration-resistant midsole.
Some other common safety designations that are worth knowing are:
HI Insulation against heat
CI Insulation against cold
HRO Outsole resistance to hot contact
ESD Electro-static discharge resistant
Safety standards for non-slip shoes
Anti-slip shoes are vital in many workplaces, and are subject to separate standards that they must meet. These are:
SRA Tested on ceramic tile wetted with sodium lauryl sulphate (a diluted soap solution)
SRB Tested on steel with glycerol
SRC Tested under SRA and SRB conditions
When purchasing anti-slip boots and anti-slip shoes, it is important to note that some SRC-rated footwear is more slip resistant than others. Where slip resistance is of high importance, you should ask your safety footwear supplier for the detailed ratings to enable you to compare the performance of different styles.
Safety Shoes User:
There are a huge range of jobs out there that require a safety shoe or boot so what works best for each job? We have put together our own guide to help you make the right choice when it comes to your safety.
Working as a Civil Engineer you will have to take time out to visit sites and so a good pair of steel toe cap boots would be perfect for you to have in the car. With a steel toe and midsole to protect feet, as well as firm grip sole and a padded collar they really are an all-rounder that is still more popular than ever. Don’t forget if it is something a bit lighter you are after a composite boot will work just as well.
If you are an Engineer then you may find a classic steel toe cap works for you too, however it can sometimes help to have a bit more protection. A composite safety boot is as durable as a steel toe cap, made up of composite materials it really is a lightweight boot making moving around a lot easier. A boot with a metatarsal gel support will also help protect those delicate bones in your feet.
Working in Construction can be tiring and damaging to your feet. Give your feet the best possible care by wearing a pair of metatarsal safety shoes, these will protect the fragile bones in your feet, a good old steel toe cap with steel mid sole will also help protect feet from any debris or punctures, meaning you can get on with the job in hand.
Safety footwear for Electricians has never been so good with lots of styles to choose from you can be sure your feet will be well protected. Electro Static Dissipative shoes will do the job of dispersing electrical currents reducing the risk of an electric shock. However, a composite boot with a well-insulated sole will do the job too, with less or no metal included the electrical current will have no conductor to pass through.
For those who work in an Industrial Environment pair of good steel toe cap boots which are both water and heat resistant will do the job. Choose from an ankle boot style to a longer leg style depending on the protection you need. Many come with a shock absorbing sole and padded collar for added protection.
You might think that working in an Office Environment you wouldn’t need to use safety footwear however the occasion may arise from time to time when you need to use them. Choose some oxford style steel toe cap shoes, not only do they look like a normal smart office shoe they will do a great job at protecting feet as and when you need them to.