The right safety footwear is crucial not only for worker safety but also for increasing productivity and cost-effectiveness. But how do you choose the most appropriate safety shoes to protect workers against workplace hazards, keeping them safe, comfortable, and productive?
This article will discuss the latest updates to the safety footwear standards, along with ways to evaluate the risks that workers are exposed to and how to select safety footwear for different industries and workers. Finally, we will list cases and examples to explain what critical criteria needs to be considered to maximize comfort and safety.
The revised version of ISO 20345 was published in June 2022. After a transition period, the previous standard will be withdrawn. Harmonization and publication in the Official Journal of the EU Commission are still required for general use as a basis for certification under the PPE Regulation.
EN ISO 20345:2022 is valid from the date of harmonization by the European Commission. A date has not yet been published. Safety shoes already on the market do not have to comply with the new standard until the existing type of examination certificate expires. The EU-type examination (certificate) is valid for 5 years.
During the on-site inspection, the specialists will identify potential hazards in the workplace, Based on the results, the safety specialists will choose the most suitable safety shoes for each worker.
At ERIKS, our PPE application engineers will identify hazard areas alongside the company's safety officers on-site. By investigating all different work areas, our engineers can determine the best safety shoe assortment for each area and worker to ensure that all risks are covered for better standardization. For example, if sharp objects were identified which could penetrate the shoe, then S1 safety shoes are insufficient for nail protection, so safety shoes with midsole protection for penetration resistance are required for that specific work area.
Examples of workplace hazards include:
The work environment must be re-evaluated to identify potential risks because it impacts the requirement for safety shoes after a change is made. For example, if the dry walking surface is replaced with a wet floor with falling metal objects, the safety shoes should have slip-resistant soles with steel toe caps and moisture protection.
Companies with multiple sites often experience ordering process misalignment. ERIKS safety shoe specialists can ensure your safety program is streamlined and up to industry standards, reducing costs and manual labour.
In one example, ERIKS PPE specialists developed a bespoke online portal allowing guided buying through the ERIKS webshop and viewing each site's portfolio and users. As a result, the online portal streamlined the ordering process for cost information, delivery, and invoice verification processes.
Following the on-site inspection, the overall shoe stock was significantly reduced from 35 to six styles, easing the administrative burden of the procurement process.
There are very strict standards that must be met in cleanrooms. A cleanroom environment requires close collaboration between the safety officer, the hygiene officer, and the application engineer responsible for personal protective equipment.
Specific and relevant safety shoes can be chosen depending on cleanroom activity. White shoes are often used in a cleanroom. Moreover, special shoes are essential in clean rooms because they protect the product or the premises from contamination.
The main hazard for electricians is probably electric arcing. According to the electrical properties, safety shoes are divided into two requirements:
To have maximum safety, electricians should wear safety shoes manufactured for Electrical Static Discharge (ESD) requirements because they already contain a higher proportion of conductive materials (antistatic agents) in the sole construction in order to comply with the reduced upper limit value even under unfavourable conditions.
S1 to S7 safety shoes are antistatic, but the electrical resistances are highly influenced by temperature, humidity, and the individual wearing situation (sweating, wetness, pressure, bending, soiling). They can fulfill the electrical values of the ESD requirement only under normal climatic situations.
Logistic workers choose safety shoes based on their type of work, which has different requirements. For example, an employee working in goods receiving and palletizing will need different safety shoes than an employee who packs small products in the small parts warehouse.
However, what can be ensured is that with weight-related heel cushioning, back strain is minimized, and employees are thus supported in an ergonomically correct way. In turn, this leads to improved workplace ergonomics, increasing safety and efficiency.
Some wearers often choose one or two shoe sizes larger to fit their feet width. This is not only uncomfortable but also unsafe. Every fit is different, safety shoes should be adapted to wearers’ weight and width for just not comfort but for safety and productivity.
The risk of stumbling and falling increases if the safety shoe does not provide proper support. For instance, too-tight shoes often cause forefoot problems, leading to an unstable stance.
Steitz Secura, a European safety shoe manufacturer, offers safety shoes that can be individually adapted to four different shoe widths, XXB, XB, NS, and S, for all shoe models and shoe lengths.
Safety shoes that fit well allow the wearers to work flexibly for long hours without having to change to different insoles. This can also save time spent switching shoes in different work areas.
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