The use of personal protective equipment has become essential in a wide range of industries thanks to changes in legislation. As a result, work-related injuries and accidents are at an all-time low. Most of the time, PPE is provided by the employer, but sometimes, you’ll have to pick up your own PPE, including the footwear. If you’re responsible for buying your own work footwear, there are a couple of important considerations to keep in mind when shopping for the ideal pair.
Comfort, durability, slip-resistance and toe protection are all things that matter when selecting mens work footwear. However, mens work footwear, just like every other type of PPE, should be used as a last resort. In other words, every other protection measure in the workplace should be taken before you consider the PPE that you or your employees are going to wear. Without further ado, here are the important factors to consider when buying work footwear.
The most important factors when shopping for work footwear is to ensure they meet legal standards and are the right type for the worker, task and environment. Some of the type of protection work footwear can provide is impact by heavy and sharp objects, absorption of elements like oil or water, against build-up of static electricity and protection against extreme temperatures.
If there’s a risk of injury from falling sharp and heavy objects, then you need footwear that offers toe cap and midsole protection. If there’s a chance of slippery surfaces, you need a non-slip sole. If you’re working around acids, alkalis or chemicals, you need a sole that’s resistant to the type of acid, alkali or chemical. If you need extra heel and ankle support, you need footwear that offers ankle protection and shock absorbing heels.
If you’re exposed to molten metal, you need foundry boots that have calf protection. If you’re working in areas with extreme temperatures, you need heat resistant soles, cold store footwear, and footwear that ensures insulation and has breathable properties. When dealing with minor irritant substances and biohazards, you need rigger boots with extra coverage and that are machine washable. And lastly, when looking for footwear for long standing periods, you need footwear with comfortable soles, insoles and shock-absorber heels.
You can easily find any type of work footwear online. That being said, look at a couple of different websites that offer different models, and compare them for price and features.
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