Protective footwear is a vital piece of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Did you know that more than 20% of disability applications worldwide are due to injured feet? The expenses and inconvenience caused by accidents at work have led companies all over the world to implement tougher policies and stricter standards in terms of work safety, such as protective footwear, to ensure improved protection at the workplace.
Depending on the design, safety shoes are able to protect workers in different ways. One of the most effective ways they can do this is by improving grip or traction. The better the traction a footwear has, the less likely you are going to fall or slip. A well designed protective footwear also provide balance and comfort, protecting workers while climbing ladders. a lot of accident involving ladders are due to poorly made footwear, another reason why safety shoes are a must. But the importance of protective footwear in the workplace has many other reasons. Let's take a look at a few of them.
Cutting and Puncture Protection
If you work in an environment where there are sharp objects around, heavy-duty shoes featuring toe protection and thick materials is a must. Heavy duty work boots or logging boots are designed with cut resistant material to protect your feet. These shoes also provide ankle protection and have water repellant properties.
Protection from Falling Objects
Accidents are common in workplaces where there are a lot of heavy machinery, vehicles and power tools or require workers to carry heavy objects. Wearing protective footwear in these workplaces ensures that the worker's toes will be protected in case heavy objects fall on their toes.
Prevent Falls, Trips and Slips
Tripping, slips and falls can happen in any workplace, resulting in injuries. Companies can protect their employees by providing safety shoes or boots for them to wear in the workplace. Furthermore, standing for hours on concrete or other hard surfaces induces fatigue. Protective footwear is designed to provide cushioning as well as support for the arch, making it more comfortable to wear. Thanks to that, fatigue is also reduced.
Safeguard from Electrical Currents
Electricity caries a lot of potential risks such a shock. Employees that don't wear safety shoes are at a higher risk of suffering from static electricity accumulation, producing sparks. This possibility can be reduced by wearing safety shoes featuring non-conductive properties. Leather and rubber are good choices as they don't conduct electricity.
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