Why You Should Supply Your Staff with Comfortable Safety Footwear
Is PPE Comfort Important?
Comfortable safety footwear is important because it prevents foot fatigue, calluses, blisters and more severe damage to foot muscles and bones. Ill-fitting PPE can present safety hazards and cause injuries.
Correct and well fitted personal protective equipment is crucial. Your staff are more likely to wear their safety gear if it is comfortable. This helps you to ensure their protection, and your compliance.
How to Correctly Fit Your Safety Shoes
It is essential to educate your staff on how to size and fit their safety footwear. Here are some important factors to note when trying on safety shoes.
Your Feet Change Size
Throughout the day, your feet may swell. It is crucial to ensure that your safety shoes allow enough space for this possibility. This space is also helpful if you need thick socks in winter. However, too much space can also be a trip hazard.
It is good to fit safety shoes towards the end of the day when your feet are larger. This ensures that you find the perfect spacial balance.
Style Matters
The design of your safety footwear may affect the fit. Lace-up safety shoes are more adjustable than slip-on. However, if you struggle with circulation problems, over-tightening lace-ups can cause further complications.
Safety footwear comes in many style options, so you have many options. It’s important to also take personal preference into account.
You Should Break in Your Safety Shoes
When you first get a new pair of safety boots, they are likely to be stiff. To prevent calluses and blisters, you may need to stretch and soften them.
Before wearing safety footwear for a long work shift, consider wearing them a for a little time daily with thick socks. When they feel a bit more comfortable and flexible, then you know they are broken in.
Safety Footwear Features That Affect Wearability
Safety Footwear is essential in most industries. Almost every big company has a maintenance department, and safety shoes are the first line of defence.
Employees are more productive when comfortable, and safety shoe characteristics can affect this.
Footbeds Are Crucial in Comfortable Safety Footwear
The comfort and breathability of your protective shoes may depend on certain auxiliary products.
Footbed inserts offer arch support and cushion your heels and the balls of your feet. Your steps are more comfortable with this support, and you reduce foot fatigue. Footbeds also reduce movement and friction and minimise blisters.
Foot inserts are especially helpful in gumboots as they increase breathability and ease the lack of flexibility. They particularly benefit people such as butchers and other food industry workers required to wear gumboots daily.
Let’s Talk About Toe Caps
A vital characteristic of safety footwear is the toe cap. These can be a challenge to comfort. You need to ensure that your toes can move. If the cap is too large, it may not protect the correct part of your foot.
Sock Material is Significant
While you may not consider the material of your socks to be important, it can affect your safety.
Socks with a high cotton content are cooler, more comfortable, and safer in certain industries.
Different Soles
The soles of your safety footwear comprise of different materials depending on their application. The type of sole you choose dictates your safety footwear’s flexibility, slip resistance, and durability.
PVC
These soles are highly chemically resistant but have low slip resistance and are not immune to high temperatures.
Steel Midsole
A steel midsole makes safety footwear more resistant to puncture from below.
Torsion Control Sole
A torsion control bar is beneficial for those who spend long hours on ladders or scaffolding.
Polyurethane Soles
These soles are flexible, lightweight, and antistatic. They provide high resistance to oil, acid, and fuels. They are also slip-resistant and can withstand temperatures up to 110°C.
Thermoplastic Polyurethane Soles
This material is less flexible and less slip-resistant but highly cut-resistant.
Rubber Soles
These soles are heavy-duty. However, they are heavier than other materials.
Comfortable Safety Footwear is a Must-Have
Ensuring your staff’s safety shoes offer the highest level of protection and comfort is crucial. The more wearable the shoe, the more productive the employee. Our team can help supply and fit your employees with their ideal safety shoes.