Firm footing: choosing protective footwear

Often made for specific conditions, safety footwear should be all about features that are built around keeping feet secure — in all kinds of environments — while still offering a range of comfort features. ADAM BLAKE sets out some key considerations in the selection of safety footwear.

The choice of safety footwear has implications far exceeding the fundamentally important and obvious ones of accident prevention and protection. There is increasing awareness that wearing inappropriate or inadequate footwear can lead to long-term occupational health issues, including physical problems such as knee and back strains, and can also be detrimental to a wearer’s mental health. Footwear has a strong bearing on a wearer’s comfort and wellbeing, possibly more than any other item of apparel.

When a worker is on their feet for 8–10 hours a day, often on challenging or uneven surfaces, they need to feel confident that their boots are doing their job both from a protective point of view and offering the correct support skeletally and comfortably. Workplace environments and risk factors vary enormously, and work health and safety risk assessments should be consulted before choosing footwear protection. Here I set out some key considerations in the selection of safety footwear.

AS 2210.3:2019 tested

AS 2210.3:2019 is the relevant standard when it comes to safety footwear, with the objective of this standard being to provide manufacturers and users with requirements for footwear intended for use in workplace applications. This standard specifically relates to the safety footwear element of personal protective equipment and ensures that the footwear is compliant in providing the wearer with the best level of safety in every facet, including: design, upper construction (including leather properties), linings, durability and slip resistance of outsole materials, insoles, toe protection and specific ergonomic features.

Certain workplaces like mines and construction sites, heavy industry and trades like electrical require additional protective features in footwear including penetration resistance, electrical properties, water resistance and metatarsal protection — requirements that are addressed in additional clauses in AS 2210.3:2019.

Toe cap resistance

Safety footwear is often fitted with toe caps, designed to give protection against impact when tested at an energy level of at least 200 joules and against compression when tested at a compression load of at least 15 kN. Steel toe caps provide the maximum protection against impact, cuts, penetration and rolling forces such as forklifts and heavy moving machinery. Although steel toe caps are the traditional means of protection in safety footwear, advances in composite toe material have also seen footwear manufacturers providing safety alternatives that are suitable for light industries such as hospitality, warehousing and security. That said, for workers whose feet are exposed to the risk of repetitive impacts, penetration, cutting hazards or electrical hazards, steel safety toe boots remain as the most suitable option.

Metatarsal protection

Fractures of the metatarsal bones — the long bones running up the foot — are one of the most common form of traumatic foot injury, therefore it is important to provide protection here. The metatarsal bones of the foot are very vulnerable to injury because the front of the foot sticks out beyond the body line, inviting a rolling or falling object to collide with this unprotected part of the body. Without metatarsal protection, a small impact to the foot can be painful because there is very little flesh and muscle to protect those metatarsal bones, and it does not take much more of an impact to cause a disabling injury because all those bones, joints, muscles, ligaments and nerves are exposed and unprotected.

Ergonomic features

Another common lower body injury is rolled ankles, which is a prevalent hazard on construction sites across Australia. You can help mitigate these risks through the selection of boots that feature wide, flared soles, correct arch support, shanks to ensure torsional stability, quality footbeds, and strong and supportive heel counters that assist in decreasing the risk of ankle injury.

Penetration protection

For those in a range of sectors such as construction, mining and manufacturing, selecting safety footwear that offers maximum resistance against perforation of the sole by nails and other sharp objects is vital. Leather boots that have a composite penetration insole and boots with a steel midsole are effective features of penetration protection.

Chemical resistance

Footwear with chemical resistance is important for industries where caustic acid spillage is a risk. Make sure to select footwear that has a chemical-resistant leather upper and polyurethane/rubber outsole, and that is compliant to Standard EN 13832-2:2006, meaning the footwear has been tested against a listed range of chemical substances.

Takeaway

When purchasing safety footwear it is important to consider all the features listed above and ensure that the specific needs of your industry are met by the protective footwear selected. Worker health and safety are the most important factors — workers should consider their footwear to be the most valuable tool in their toolbox. With so many options on the market, it is important to remember that not all safety footwear is the same. Make sure your choice is fit for purpose and the best option available.

Adam Blake is Co-Chief Operating Officer of Blundstone.

Image credit: ©stock.adobe.com/au/CHAWALIT