Knowing when to give safety boots the boot

Between 2019 and 2020, Safe Work Australia reported 13% of all serious claims in Australia were from the construction industry — with a total of 15,567 incidents reported.

Across all work-related injuries reported, there is a median time of 6.8 weeks lost, highlighting the importance of personal protective equipment (PPE) such as safety footwear. Choosing a fit-for-purpose safety shoe can ultimately reduce time lost.

Every workplace environment poses different risk factors for onsite workers. Risks can vary enormously, so it is important these are assessed before determining the best footwear protection.

Blundstone suggests considering the underfoot conditions such as uneven surfaces, smooth or slippery surfaces or wet or muddy conditions, along with the physical activities that may be undertaken while wearing the boots — such as jumping in and out of trucks, standing on concrete flooring or using ladders.

When choosing fit-for-purpose boots, Blundstone recommends considering the following:

• Safety toe cap — does the work undertaken require steel or composite safety? Does it require impact resistance, or both cut and impact resistance?
• Quality uppers — are the boots designed using materials that are breathable, protective and supportive to maintain excellent foot health?
• Sole design and material — is the tread pattern and outsole material appropriate for the work conditions? Do they offer slip-resistance and optimum grip?
• Over-arching design — is a personalised fit through a zip and laces function required to provide increased ankle and calf protection? Is the convenience of a zip or elastic side a priority for easy on, easy off?
   

Knowing when to replace safety boots, in addition to choosing the right work boot, is the key to being safe onsite. It’s important to ensure wearers of safety boots are in the most appropriate footwear for their job, and back to work is a timely period to assess whether boots need replacing.

Blundstone suggests looking out for the following signs when evaluating safety boots:

• Toe cap exposure
• Leather wear — torn, worn, split or damaged. Make sure to check the welt area where the leather and sole join
• Sole wear — worn down, inadequate tread
• Have the boots been subjected to significant impact or trauma?
• Do they no longer provide comfort or have excessive wear?
• Have they been exposed to harmful chemicals or products?