Wet, hot, and cold conditions

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1 The issue of foot protection in the workplace can be a frustrating one, with unique needs for different environments, and an overwhelmingly large selection of footwear on the market. To make things even more complex, feet vary markedly in size, shape, and sensitivity, meaning one worker s favourite pair of boots can be quite uncomfortable for another. As difficult as it is to find footwear solutions at work, it is a crucial process to ensuring employee safety. We want to share with you what we have learned about selecting the best footwear for your employees from twenty years of working with companies of all sizes and across a wide spectrum of industries. We know how frustrating it can be to equip your workers with safe and comfortable shoes and boots, and we do our best to make the process as simple and straightforward as we can. This is an overview of our best practices for procuring safety footwear. There are many risks for foot injury if the workplace is not properly assessed and the employee is not provided with appropriate PPE. Some of the main dangers for feet in the workplace are: Slips Heavy loads Cuts Punctures Falling objects Wet, hot, and cold conditions Vehicles Metal and chemical splash 1

2 The Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992 state that: Every employer shall ensure that suitable personal protective equipment is provided to his employees who may be exposed to a risk to their health or safety while at work except where and to the extent that such risk has been adequately controlled by other means which are equally or more effective. (Regulation 4) Employers must conduct thorough and complete risk assessments in the workplace to identify what potential dangers there are to workers. It is important to identify which workers specifically are at risk, and how they may be harmed. Once the hazards have been properly identified, it must be decided which controls to implement. Risks assessments should be recorded and reviewed on an ongoing basis, particularly when there has been a relevant change to the workplace. Specific instructions for how to conduct sufficient risk assessments can be found in the Frequently Asked Questions on the HSE website. There is also a template available to help properly record your risk assessment. In relation to foot and leg safety, employers must assess whether or not slip or fall risks are present due to slippery floors or wet working conditions. Risks for items falling on feet and legs must be considered. If there is potential for injury from chemical splash, hot liquid, or extreme temperatures, it must be taken into account. Jobs where prolonged standing is required should be identified and suitable alternatives should be provided where appropriate. Where possible, employers should aim to reduce or eliminate entirely the potential risk factors in the workplace prior to resorting to PPE. Some examples of this are: Protective Footwear Sign Slips and falls can be reduced by ensuring a policy is in place to clean up spills immediately, and removing any potential risks for tripping. Measures can be taken to reduce the slipperiness of a surface through chemical treatment or the use of rugs or mats. Risks of puncture wounds can be reduced by ensuring that all loose nails, sharp metal or glass objects, are kept off the floor. Crush injuries can be reduced by separating mobile equipment from areas of pedestrian traffic, and ensuring that safety mirrors and warning signs are installed in the area of hazard. Cuts and severed feet and toes can be prevented through proper guarding of machines that are specifically hazardous. 2

3 If appropriate measures have been taken to reduce the risk to workers, and there is still a threat of harm, footwear PPE must be provided by the employer. Different risks require different types of footwear. For example: Risk Falling objects Twist/Sprain Ankle Risk Extreme temperatures Slippery surfaces Footwear Steel toe protection and (in instances where metatarsals may be injured) steel midsole protection Boots with support rising above the ankle Heat resistant soles / sufficiently insulated boots Non-slip soles Hazardous chemicals Chemical resistant soles and sufficient coverage Extreme temperatures Heat resistant soles / sufficiently insulated boots Wet conditions Water resistant or waterproof boots Sharp objects penetrating sole of the shoe Chainsaw operation Steel midsole protection Specialist chainsaw boots are available It is legally prohibited for employers to ask their employees to provide money for PPE, regardless of whether or not it is returnable. If a worker s employment is terminated and the employee does not return the equipment, the employer may deduct the cost from the employees wages owed if this is outlined contractually. 3

4 Ensuring that your employees footwear fits correctly is imperative to making sure that they are correctly protected and comfortable. If footwear is painful, workers are more likely to avoid wearing PPE, increasing risk of injury. Tips for Getting the Most Out of Fittings The same style of socks that will be worn at work should be worn when trying on new footwear. Thicker socks will require a looser boot, while thinner socks will leave more space so the boot should be tighter. Ensure that the laces are done up properly, in the same way they would be on the job. This helps to get a better feel for the fit of the boot, and prevents the boot from sliding around. When testing out new footwear, the worker should be given a few minutes to walk around and see how they feel. It is a good idea to record the size, style, and make of boot that is ultimately selected for future reference. It is important to ensure that the footwear is wide enough to be comfortable. If the worker has wide feet, look for a boot that offers a wide option. When fitting a boot with a steel toe cap, make sure that the toe cap doesn t bite in when the boot bends. This can be problem particularly when boots are too big. Size Guide Euro UK Breathability This is critical, as it allows moisture and vapour produced by the body to be released from the shoe, preventing an accumulation of moisture, overheating, and discomfort by keeping feet drier. When possible, choose breathable materials like leather when selecting footwear. Lightweight When possible, select a boot that is lightweight to minimise strain on the foot, ankle, and leg. There are some tasks which will require a more sturdy option to ensure full protection so it is important to take into account the nature of the task when making a decision. 4

5 Classifications What do they mean? SB P A Toe protection tested with 200J impact and 15kN compression force Penetration resistant outsole tested at 1100N Electrical resistance between foot and ground of between 0.1 and 1000 mega ohms E Energy absorption in the seat region tested at 20 joules WRU Water resistant upper leather HRO Heat resistant outsole compound tested at 300 C CI HI M C Insulation against the cold temperature drops less than 10 C when tested at 17 C Insulation of the sole against heat Metatarsal protection tested to 100J impact Conductive footwear with a resistance below 0.1 Mega volts, measured according to EN20344: SRA SRB SRC Slip resistance on ceramic floor with sodium lauryl sulphate solution Slip resistance on steel floor with glycerol Slip resistance for both SRA and SRB 5

6 Insoles are an excellent option for workers with unique foot issues, particularly in instances of fallen arches or instep challenges. Insoles can build up this area to allow the individual to function comfortably using safety footwear. From adding more cushion to medically prescribed for specific conditions, insoles are a simple way to customise footwear for each unique foot. Employers can supply insoles to their employees if they choose, while some employees may provide their own insoles, which can be properly fitted to the provided PPE. It is important to ensure that the laces to safety footwear are always properly tied to ensure a good fit and effective functioning. If laces become worn or damaged, they are easily replaced. This should be done as soon as the damage is noticed, as broken laces can impede protection. New boots will usually need to be worn in a bit before being fully comfortable. Softer boots will generally fit faster, though they are not as durable, while rubber, leather, and steel footwear may take longer to adjust to the wearer s foot. This adjustment period can be tough for some people. An effective strategy for coping with this is alternating the new boot with a worn-in pair for an allotted time. The user can choose to cycle these products day-by-day, with one day of the new boots and one day of the old boots. Alternatively, if the working conditions allow for it, the worker can switch boots every few hours. Both of these strategies can slowly be phased out, spending longer periods of time with the new footwear until the worker has no discomfort while wearing them. It is important to make certain that safety footwear is in good condition. To ensure that boots and shoes last their full life span, care must be taken to maintain them. Footwear should be kept clean, washing off mud and dirt as it accumulates. Not only does this protect the item from deterioration, it makes physical damage easier to spot. If the product is made with leather, using shoe grease or similar moisturising creams to keep it supple will prevent drying and cracking. 6

7 Upper made from smooth black full-grain aniline leather, with synthetic lining and non-metallic toe cap. The overcap is PU for a better leather protection in the front part of the footwear. It has a removable insole which is anatomic and antistatic Finding footwear that protects workers effectively, while remaining comfortable can be one of the greatest challenges a Health and Safety professional faces, and there is no one-size-fits-all solution. Working with a knowledgeable, experienced supplier can help in selecting a range of job-appropriate footwear to suit employees with different needs. At Nusafe, we work with our clients through every stage of the footwear selection process, exploring options, supporting trial periods with end users, assessing feedback, and providing alternatives when needed. We are truly experts in our field and we want to share our expertise with our clients to simplify the PPE and workwear procurement process. If you want to talk about safety footwear options, feel free to give us a call at Alternatively, you can us at sales@nusafe.co.uk. 7

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