Not everyone wakes up in the morning to go to work and pays special attention to what footwear they have on. Many simply choose the shoes that best compliment their outfit. So for these set of folks, it’s all about style and appearances.
There are however a different set of folks for whom their footwear is a lot more than style and fashion. For these ones, what they put on their feet is a matter of personal safety. This type of worker is not overly bothered about fashion and looks at least not for work purposes. It is for this special group that we have written this article.
Workers that Need Special Footwear
What group are we referring to? According the Occupational Safety and Health Administration of the United States Department of Labor, this group covers all who work in locations or industries where there is a danger of injury to the feet arising from falling objects, rolling objects, piercing by sharp objects and other such situations. It also covers environments where there is the danger of any form of electrical hazards. You can read about it here.
This is actually not a suggestion but a regulation for which an employer can be sanctioned. We will try to elaborate on this later. A look at the description above covers a wide range of industries including but not restricted to construction, manufacturing, lumber yards, oil and gas, metal works and industries that deal with chemicals or in very cold environments. These are just a few examples.
If you work in any of the above mentioned industries or environments or any one similar to these, then having your feet (and other parts) properly protected should be the top priority of both yourself and your employer.
Specifications of Work Boots
So what specifications qualify some footwear as safety boots? There are different variations of work boots suited for different types of workplaces. However, there are standard specifications that any work or safety boot is expected to possess. You can get a full explanation in this article here: https://www.ishn.com/articles/94657-what-you-need-to-know-about-safety-footwear because we will only provide a summary here. Some of these necessary specifications include:
Safety Toes
The toes of work boots are very important. This is the point that we easily hit against stuff and surfaces. Safety shoes offer varying levels of protection for toes. The highest toe protection is offered by steel capped toes followed by aluminum capped ones and then composite capped ones.
Protective Soles
The next specification is the protection of the soles. This ensures that sharp items cannot pierce through. They also provide traction when working in slippery environments. These can be made from tough rubber which is anti-slip. Another material of choice is Thermo Poly Urethane. This is also tough and provides traction but it is lighter than rubber, making it ideal for environments that require some speed. It is also more resistant to chemicals.
Another consideration is the mid-sole. We’ve added this under this category because its major function is to provide balance by properly dispersing the weight of the foot. This also helps with the comfort level the footwear will offer.
Metatarsal Guards
This is a critical protection specification. When an object falls, it is likely to fall on top of the feet if it misses the head. The metatarsal guard protects this part of the feet from such dangers. Aside from heavy objects, it could also provide protection from sparks of fire that may fall on the feet as in the case of a welder or someone cutting a metal plate.
Fit
This is not exactly a specification. It is more like a consideration factor. Ensuring the footwear is a good fit is critical. If it’s too tight, the feet will develop other issues and if it is too loose, it will pose a safety issue because the wearer won’t be able to move properly.
Waterproof
Not all safety or work boots may offer this. It can however be very helpful in certain work condition. It most certainly will not be a disadvantage in any work environment so it should be best to simply ensure you get one that is waterproof.
Conclusion
Everything about getting a work boot is largely determined by where you get yours from. Companies like https://everboots.com are always certain to offer only top quality work boots suitable for various work environments.
Be sure to take some time to carefully review the needs of your work environment and then choose safety footwear that will offer the right kind of protection. This is something no worker should take for granted.
If you are an employer, remember that the safety of your workers should be paramount to you. If it’s not, then you could be facing stiff penalties from regulatory bodies. You might as well take the bold step of getting these boots for your workers to ensure their safety is guaranteed and you do not default on any regulatory statutes.
This is very good advice on getting a work boot. I had not realized how many styles and differences existed between the many work boots available.