5 reasons why you should wear safety footwear

Take care of safety in the workplace

Wearing protective equipment at work is a safety issue. Studies clearly show that a quarter of all accidents that occur at work are related to foot injuries. Whether you are an employer or an employee, you certainly want to avoid this scenario. Fortunately, safety shoes are designed to keep you protected in the workplace. In this article, we've collected all the top reasons why you should wear them. To work!

#1 Prevent falls and injuries

No matter where you work, there are unexpected slips, accidental falls and unforeseen slips in any profession. To ensure adequate protection against unfortunate accidents, it is worth using appropriate protective footwear, which is characterized by an adhesive sole and a properly designed tread. Thanks to this, the floor is no longer slippery and the workplace becomes safer.

Safety shoes provide protection against cuts, burns, strong impacts, as well as falls that could result in bone fractures or other serious injuries.

#2 Provide protection against electric shock

Electricity in the workplace poses many risks. To reduce exposure to potential electric shock or build-up of static electricity, wear shoes made of non-conductive materials such as leather or rubber.

#3 Provide protection against burns

Safety footwear can provide effective protection not only against electric shock, but also against dangerous burns caused by chemicals or other dangerous substances that could damage the skin of the feet. Choose safety shoes made of solid, durable materials that will prevent such scenarios.

#4 Take care of efficiency

Fatigue caused by prolonged standing on your feet can be a serious problem in any workplace. Tired muscles of the legs and feet additionally get a bone when the employee is not wearing comfortable safety shoes. Properly designed safety footwear will provide adequate cushioning and arch support. Thanks to this, the employee will feel more comfortable, and the muscles will no longer be overloaded. Undoubtedly, this will affect the performance of work more efficiently and increase safety.

#5 Work within the rules

It is safety in the workplace that should be a priority for every employer. If you want to minimize the risk of accidents, simply follow the applicable occupational health and safety regulations. According to the law, the employer is obliged to provide work shoes to employees who directly operate machines and technical devices. Occupational safety shoes are also required in places that cause intensive soiling or contamination of shoes through the impact of radioactive, chemical agents, as well as biological material. 

Different types of safety shoes

Work environments can vary greatly. If you want to take advantage of all the benefits of using safety shoes, it's important to properly match your pair to the place where you work.

According to the EN ISO 2035 standard, safety shoes can be divided into two basic types related to potential hazards. Therefore, occupational (so-called working) footwear marked with the symbol "O" and safety footwear marked with the symbol "S" are distinguished. The first one is dedicated to everyday use in places where additional toe protection is not required. The second is characterized by the so-called toe caps that are impact and crush resistant. Thanks to this, they provide protection against crushing of fingers by falling, heavy objects or materials.

Additionally, there are two categories of safety shoes. The first category consists of shoes made of leather or other materials not included in the second category. This, in turn, is made up of all-rubber and all-plastic shoes, i.e. fully vulcanized and fully molded, respectively.

Noteworthy are also shoes with a steel insert, which work well in places where there is a risk of stepping on sharp obstacles. The insole designed in this way additionally reduces foot and leg fatigue. There are also shoes with a more flexible, jointed midsole, which works well, for example, when working as a plumber, while maintaining the ability to work comfortably, while providing protection from sharp objects.

Don't underestimate security

Specially designed safety shoes are the key to safe and effective work. It is worth remembering that in many cases ordinary footwear worn every day is not able to meet all the challenges and dangers that await an employee in the work environment. Unfortunately, accidents happen and they cannot always be avoided. However, when they do occur, wearing the right safety shoes will help prevent serious and dangerous injuries.