Safety shoes choose guide

Because the feet of people who are engaged in dangerous and heavy work often encounter various vulnerable objects,

The company is the world’s best safety shoes manufacturer supplier. We are your one-stop shop for all needs. Our staff are highly-specialized and will help you find the product you need.

people pay more and more attention to the protection requirements of the feet, if they are injured. It’s hard to be cured. Because it is an adult. The bones in various parts have been shaped,

but if the feet support the weight of the whole body or even heavier forces,the wear and tear of the shoes must be quite serious,

so it is particularly important to choose comfortable safety shoes for them. So, how to choose safety shoes suitable for them? What aspects should be paid attention to such as shoe fabric, size, heel height, shoelace and elastic design?

In addition to the requirements of aesthetics and comfort, safety shoes are more important to protect the safety of workers’ feet.

Once the safety shoes contain harmful substances, the consequences will be unimaginable,

so the safety shoes must be suitable for the shape of the feet when choosing safety shoes.

In general, the heel should not be too high or too large.

Shoes that are too large will not only affect the normal activities of the wearer, but also affect the correct walking posture and work efficiency.

Shoes that are too small can cause the wearer’s toes to be pinched and less comfortable, and what’s more, the foot can be seriously injured and twisted.

Different workers have different gait characteristics, so appropriate adjustments should be made in the standards for purchasing safety shoes to meet the work needs of the wearers.

Choosing safety shoes should not only be beautiful in appearance and comfortable to wear, but also ensure work safety and foot health. Generally, safety, comfort, and breathability are the principles. In addition, the color should be black as the main color, supplemented by other colors. So, how can we choose comfortable safety shoes?

When purchasing safety shoes, you should pay attention to the following points:

1.Material:

The material of safety shoes is mainly leather. Mainly use comfortable soft leather,

because the use of comfortable soft leather will not affect the blood circulation,

the foot nerves will be activated, and the toes and soles will be more comfortable. The safety shoes have good air permeability and can effectively volatilize the odor inside the shoes. If you must choose safety shoes made of artificial leather, try to choose materials with soft leather surface,

good air permeability, and better quality or mesh.

2.Sole:

Choose soles with soft, breathable upper materials. If the soles are too hard, it is inconvenient for workers to work while wearing safety shoes,

and it is easy to cause the toes to be easily compressed or other adverse problems.

Try to choose soles with excellent anti-skid performance and soft bottom surface, and at the same time,

due consideration should be given to the firmness and wear resistance of the soles.

3.Heel:

Safety shoes generally use flat heels, and high heels cannot be used as safety shoes. Because it is easy to cause foot injury or work inconvenience during work;

4.In general, safety shoes should be loose and not narrow.

5.Laces:

Generally speaking, flat shoelaces are generally used; round ones are not used,

because the flat ones make the shoelaces easy to fix and not easy to fall off, while the round ones are the opposite.

6.Product label:

When purchasing safety shoes, be sure to check the label of the product. Product labels are an important basis for consumers to understand basic information such as product quality, precautions, and usage methods.

It is an important guarantee condition for consumers to use products correctly and reasonably.

To choose the most suitable safety shoes,

the most important factor to consider is the hazards the wearer will face in the working environment. Generally speaking, safety shoes must have functions such as softness, moisture resistance, moisture resistance and sweat absorption.

1.Anti-smash:

When there is an object falling or colliding at the job site,

you can choose to have a toe-protecting steel head to prevent heavy and sharp objects from colliding. It is required to meet the LD50-94 standard.

2.Anti-puncture:

If there is a danger of nails, metal scraps or other sharp objects piercing or cutting the soles of the feet at the job site,

the anti-puncture function can be selected, and the requirements must meet the GB12017-89 standard. There are 1100N for anti-puncture special grade, 780N for grade I, and 490N for grade II. When purchasing, pay attention to the specific environmental characteristics to determine the corresponding performance level.

3.Anti-static:

Anti-static protective shoes must be able to eliminate the accumulation of static electricity in the human body

and prevent electric shocks from power sources below 250V. The insulation of the soles must be considered to prevent electric shocks or electric shocks. The requirements must meet the GB4285-1995 standard.

4.Electrical insulation:

Electrically insulating shoes are protective shoes that can insulate people’s feet from charged objects and prevent electric shocks. Its requirements must meet the GB12011-2000 standard.

5.Acid and alkali resistant shoes:

Leather acid and alkali resistant shoes can only be used in acid and alkali workplaces with low concentration,

and cannot be soaked in acid and alkali solution for a long time. The requirements must meet the GB12018-1989 standard.

6.Sole:

The outsole materials of leather shoes include rubber, polyurethane, modified polyvinyl chloride, etc. The folding resistance, wear resistance and hardness of the outsole are stipulated in the national industry standard of leather shoes. Use a hardness tester to test it. When choosing shoes, press the sole with your fingers and it should be elastic. Pull the sole with your hands without any small pieces falling off. It is not sticky to the touch and is soft when bent. At present, there are many quality problems in the outsole of rubber leather shoes,

and the phenomenon of fracture and block falling off occurs from time to time.

This is because the sole production plant does not care about product quality for profit,

and the rubber content in the rubber sole is low, so excessive reclaimed rubber and other fillers are used. , to reduce the quality of the sole.

The sole must be made to have anti-slip function. According to different working environments,

the material and texture design of the sole can increase the friction force and have a better effect on anti-slip;

the sole can also be made to be shockproof, anti-static, insulating, heat-resistant, Oil-proof and other functions.

7.Vamp:

Materials such as rubber or PVC can be used to prevent water penetration,

but when safety shoes are made of such materials,

they also make the wearer feel uncomfortable and unhygienic because of their airtightness.

At present, there are materials that prevent water penetration but allow air to enter and exit,

so that users feel more comfortable and hygienic when wearing them, but their prices are relatively high.

Usually made of genuine leather with good air permeability.

8. Dimensions and weight:

Safety shoes are different from everyday shoes because there is a steel toe cap on the front end to protect the foot,

so safety shoes should be slightly larger than daily leather shoes. The criteria for judging are:

Additional reading:
What is the Difference Between PVC and Rubber Boots?
How Effective Are Radar Speed Signs?
Enhance Security with a Heavy Duty Deadbolt: The Ultimate Protection for Your Property
How To Use Crowd Control Barriers?
Empowering Security Solutions through Cutting-edge Security Industry PCBA
Reasons For Wearing Rubber boots
What is the countdown timer on traffic lights?

If you want to learn more, please visit our website welding ski mask.

1 foot into the shoe, the heel should be able to accommodate at least 1 finger.

2 Thread the shoelaces well, move the toes up and down, left and right,

and you should not feel the toes being rubbed or squeezed.

3 Walk a few steps, the instep should not feel squeezed.

4 If you feel squeezed, it is recommended that you use a larger size of safety shoes.

5 It is best to order the size near the evening.

6 The weight of safety shoes should not exceed 1kg.

7 When wearing safety shoes that are too heavy and too tight,

it is easy to cause foot diseases such as mold breeding.

The human foot is one of the most complex parts of the body. There are 26 bones, 33 joints, and over 100 ligaments, muscles, and tendons in each foot. To put that in context: the human body features 206 bones. That means 52 of them are in your feet. 

Safety shoes protect your feet — and the rest of you — from injury both over the short and long-term. OSHA demands that workers wear safety shoes in specific circumstances, such as when there is a risk of an object piercing your sole or when there’s a crush hazard.

In this PPE guide, we’re talking about foot safety: what it is, why it’s necessary, and how to get started with safety shoes.

Let’s step to it.

Intro to OSHA Foot Safety Requirements

OSHA 1910:136(a) says the employer must ensure every affected employee wears protective footwear in any place where they are at risk of foot injuries or when footwear will protect them from electrical hazards. Workers must also wear them when there’s exposure to hot, corrosive, or poisonous materials

Additionally, OSHA 29 CFR 1915.156(a) says “workers must wear protective footwear in areas where falling or rolling objects or objects piercing the sole.”

Remember that when you’re talking about footwear, you’re not just talking about safety shoes and steel toe boots. In cases where workers could face injuries to their lower legs and ankles, you must also include PPE to cover legs and feet.

OSHA requires you to use a PPE assessment or hazard assessment to determine the risk of injury, the need for PPE, and the type of footwear employees need before the job.

What footwear do you need to choose? According to OSHA 1910.136, your footwear must comply with any one of these standards:

• ASTM F-2412-2005 “Standard Test Methods for Foot Protection” and ASTM F-2413-2005 “Standard Specification for Performance Requirements for Protective Footwear”
• ANSI Z14-1999 “American National Standard for Personal Protection — Protective Footwear”, or
• ANSI Z14-1991 “American National Standard for Personal Protection — Protective Footwear”

If the chosen protective footwear doesn’t specifically meet these standards, then you must prove it is at least as effective as the footwear that does.

Choosing the Right Footwear Features with a JHA

There’s no doubt you’ll find a long list of safety shoes on the market. Your job is to use a JHA or another risk assessment to find the right footwear features.

In cases where the risk of injury is high and the hazards are severe, you may need to provide a combination foot and shin guard in addition to toe guards. Foot and shin guards protect workers’ legs and feet. An example of an appropriate time to add foot-shin guards include when workers use power tools that throw off materials, such as when railroad workers use railroad power adzing machines. Forestry workers also need specialty shoes for extra protection against chainsaws.

Note: Slip-resistance is a great feature for a shoe, and if your work environment warrants it, then go get it. However, it’s important to note that OSHA says shoes with a slip-resistant feature alone aren’t PPE.

Safety Shoe Sole Options

The soles of the safety shoes play a substantial difference in the protection qualities of the shoe. The chart below 

Sole MaterialPropertiesRubberwithstand heat up to 570℉allows for slip-resistance may have Nitrile or Neoprene for oil and chemical absorptionPolyurethane (PU) resistance to chemicals (except alkalis) and oils)withstand head conditions between 250-300℉Polyvinyl chloride (PVC)usually added to rubber for better abrasion resistance low heat tolerance cracks in cold temperaturesThermoplastic urethane (TPU)excellent resistance to chemical and oil and abrasionlower heat resistanceEthyl vinyl acetate (EVA)open-cell plastic makes for good midsole poor abrasion decent oil and chemical resistance

Safety Shoe Features

The American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) creates standards for safety footwear both in the U.S. and around the world. Organized in 1898, the organization offers 12,000 new standards every year and has membership from governments, industries, and institutions in 140 countries.

We put together a quick overview of the protection standards definitions and the ASTM features you’ll typically look for when buying safety shoes.

ASTM FeaturesDescriptionImpact I/75Protection from dropping 50 lb weight from a height of 18”Compression C/75Protection from 2,500 lbs of forceMetatarsal MT 75Protection from 50 lb weight dropped from 18”ConductiveProtection from static electricity buildup between 0 and 500,000 ohms (not intended for wear near open electrical circuits)Electrical HazardProtects against contact with live electrical circuits of up to 18,000 volts at 60 hertz for 1 minute in dry conditionsStatic DissipativeProtects against low footwear resistance with lower limit of electrical resistance of 1 megohm and limit of 100 megohmsPuncture ResistantProtects against punctures using permanent feature layered between insole and outsole up to 270 lbs of forceASTM Protection Standards Chart

ASTM FeaturesDescriptionASTMConductive properties meeting ASTM standardsElectrical Hazard (EH)Reduce the flow of electricity and provide secondary protection from electrocutionTested to 18,00 volts at 60 hertz for 1 minuteMeets F2413-11 Section 5.5Soft-toe shoes/boots can’t be rated EH; must be safety shoesStatic Dissipating (ESD)Minimize static electricity build-upLower limit of 1 megohmUpper limit 100 megohmsMeet F2413-11 Section 5.6ESD shoes can be safety or non-safet shoesPuncture ResistantContains midsole (composite or stainless steel)Withstand minimum puncture resistance of 270 poundsMeet F2413-11 Section 5.6Steel ToeBuilt-in non-removalbe steel toe capExceeds ASTM F2413-11 I/75 and C/75 (impact and compression rating of 75)Composite Safety ToeNon-metallic safety toeLighter than steel toe bootsSuitable for security environments (passing through metal detectors)ASTM I/75 and C/75 (impact and compression rating of 75)Advanced Toe ProtectionAdvanced toe protection (non-conductive, resists temperatures)ASTM I/75 C/75 (impact and compression rating of 75)Metatarsal GuardProvides internal metatarsal guard for flexibility and better movementReduces chance of injury to metatarsal bones on top of footChemical ResistantLeather uppers are chemical resistantHeat resistantHeat resistant up to 500℉Shock AbsorptionFeatures cushion comfort insoleSlip resistantProvides slip resistant soleInside zipInside zipper for convenience and supportASTM Safety Footwear Features Chart

Safety Tread

The space and depth of the shoe’s tread contribute to its anti-slip properties. If the shapes of the outsole are too close together or shallow, then there’s not enough spaces to channel any liquids you walk through. Once the liquid gets trapped, you risk hydroplaning and then a slip or fall.

In most cases, you want a tread of around three millimeters to minimize the risk of slips and falls.

Once the tread depth starts to wear, it’s time to start considering a replacement. 

Comfort

Using footwear to mitigate risks associated with identifiable hazards is step one. Finding a product that’s comfortable is step two.

Foot comfort is more important than we often give it credit for because our big focus tends to lie on preventing foot safety disasters, like crushed feet or electrocution.

Safety shouldn’t come at the cost of comfort. In fact, they are one and the same. For example, standing in the same place puts workers at risk for back problems, arthritis, and foot pain. These are injuries, even if they happen over many months or years rather than in one fell swoop.

Plus, if the safety shoes provided aren’t comfortable, then they’re less likely to wear them, which increases their safety risk and can lead to violations if caught out by an OSHA inspector.

To prevent your safety shoes from causing problems at work, you should find shoes that also prioritize:

• Comfort
• Support
• Fit
• Flexibility

Some of these factors come down to the shoe itself. Not every workers’ feet will feel good in one pair of shoes. You may find it helpful to try out multiple vendors and give workers options.

Fit is a little bit easier to navigate. It’s a good idea to ask professionals to measure employees’ feet to get the right size. Schedule their fittings for midday in case their feet swell during the day.

Finally, go on the hunt for safety footwear designed for women. For years, women simply put on men’s shoes: they simply took a smaller size. Lately, there’s been an increase in manufacturer interest in ‘female-friendly’ safety shoes. So, get in touch with your supplier about these new options.

How to Run a Safety Footwear Program

Many people still think that workplace injuries can’t happen to them. They think of injuries as accidents. In reality, injuries are most commonly the product of a series of choices. Because foot protection tends to be overlooked, it’s good to reiterate its importance and potential hazards in toolbox talks to empower workers to make the safe choice every time.

Cover Foot Hazards in Toolbox Talks

First, every new employee should know the expectations around safety footwear before they start the job. If you don’t have footwear and foot hazards covered in your onboarding safety training session, then today is the day to add it.

Keep in mind that “one and done” isn’t enough given the severity of hazards, even those that seem minor. So, add these talks to the schedule multiple times per year. For example, if you work in a state with harsh winters, then autumn is a good time to re-run a toolbox talk before the winter snow and rain adds chaos and slippery surfaces to the workday.

You should also run toolbox talks covering the specific safety hazards impacting employees’ feet. Use your JHA results to deliver the appropriate training to each group of workers — and don’t forget to cover the comfort element and its associated risks that apply to all workers.

If you’re looking for ways to step up your foot safety program, use the Safesite app. You can find PPE training in the Safesite toolbox talks. The app lets you run meetings, stay on track, and log who has and hasn’t completed their training. 

Safesite also recommends logging positive observations when you see workers choosing the right footwear, wearing it correctly, and inspecting it before use. Logging these observations gives you a chance to evaluate your weaknesses and reward workers for making safer choices.

Manage Safety Footwear Inventory and Budget

If you don’t already have one, now is the time to set up a Foot Protection and Safety Footwear program that covers all employees working in conditions covered by the OSHA footwear guidelines. The program will make sure everyone has the PPE they need for safety and compliance, and it will help you maximize the investment you make.

As you know, OSHA began requiring employers to pay for PPE that’s used to comply with OSHA standards back in 2008. That’s why you need to pay for metatarsal protection for railroad workers, but you don’t need to pay for standard steel toe or non-slip shoes for general workers — unless you want to.

Tip: Providing a safety footwear allowance for all workers regardless of OSHA requirements does make workplaces safer.

Your safety footwear management plan should detail:

• Your safety footwear budget or allowance
• The date of replacement (e.g., not more frequently than once a year except for specific cases)
• Safety footwear training
• Recordkeeping for PPE hazard assessments, training, safety footwear maintenance/inspections, and equipment purchase and distribution

You should know who needs and has what pair of shoes and when they got them to manage your inventory and stay on budget.

Safesite put together a guide to creating a PPE management plan. You can find our PPE management post here.

When to Repair and Replace Safety Footwear

So far, we’ve talked about the need for safety shoes and how to begin the process of choosing the right PPE. The lifecycle of PPE use also includes caring for shoes. 

All PPE requires regular inspections to make sure it’s safe to use. Every worker should inspect their shoes before heading onto the site to look for:

• Cracks and holes
• Damage to buckles or laces
• Separation of materials
• Materials stuck in the soles, (e.g., trapped metal could create electrical hazards)

Any one of these issues damages the protective features of the shoes. If they find a hole or other damage, they need new shoes before they can start work. You may find it’s a good idea to add the inspection at the end of the day, so you can order more shoes before the next shift.

When do shoes need replacing? Workers cannot wear shoes with

• Leaks
• Separated soles
• Worn out tread
• Dented protective features
• Protective components shown through uppers

Of course, everyone wants to make the most of their shoes — they aren’t cheap. To get a long life out of your shoes without compromising safety, always follow the manufacturer’s care instructions.

Bring Together Features and Fit in Your Safety Shoe Program

Safety shoes protect workers from foot hazards, slip and falls, and even ergonomic hazards. You do need to provide workers with safety shoes when OSHA indicatres it’s required, but it’s a good idea to provide or train employees on issues like slips, trips, and falls regardless of OSHA rules.

To get your safety footwear program started, you’ll need your JHA. Once you have your requirements, get in touch with manufacturers and suppliers to talk through your options. Don’t be afraid to trial a few pairs of shoes before you commit. Safety shoes can last a long time, so you want them to be fit for purpose from the start.

Are you interested in learning more about logging helmet with face shield? Contact us today to secure an expert consultation!