That safety boots are Personal Protective Equipment – essential and mandatory PPE to protect feet, toes, and heels against work accidents, is already known to most businessmen and workers. So, how about taking it a step further and checking out our tips for choosing the ideal safety boot? Good reading!
Identify The Risks
Safety boots like a Thorogood Moc Toe are recommended for professional activities in the most diverse activity segments, but mainly in the industrial, civil construction, and agricultural sectors. And to identify the risks that can cause foot injuries, the tip is to analyze the worker in his work context and create a matrix with all the activities he performs daily according to the possible dangers foreseen within each activity. To start, ask some questions, such as: does the activity performed by the worker pose any danger to the health and safety of their feet? Which ones are they? How can we avoid it?
Get To Know The Main Items That Makeup The Safety Boots
After mapping the worker’s activities and the main dangers to the feet that he may face on his journey, it’s time to get to know better the parts that shape, function, and comfort safety boots.
Leather
The upper part of the shoe that covers and protects the foot is called leather. It can be produced with different materials according to the need for protection and safety against falling objects, perforations, and humidity, among others. The upper made of PVC, for example, is indicated for those who work in damp places or contact with chemical products.
Toecap
Attached to the front of the boot, the toe cap offers high impact resistance and therefore protects mainly against crushing caused by objects. According to the worker’s need for protection and safety, it can be produced in steel or composite (high-density plastics). Both are indicated to add resistance to the EPI. However, the composite is even lighter than steel and resistant to electric shocks.
Sole
The base of the boot, the sole, is responsible for maintaining the stability of the worker in carrying out his tasks and protecting him from impacts, with maximum safety against shocks, cuts, and slips, among other types of risks. Check which technology is used to manufacture the sole, its thickness, and which types of the insole are available for better hygiene and greater comfort as possible. According to the type of activity, it is also essential to check the lining types (covering the inner part of the boot) to ensure the most suitable choice, as it can, for example, ensure the warming of the feet in colder environments.
Types of Floor
During the analysis, it is essential to highlight the floor’s risks to the worker daily. After all, they can indicate, for example, the need to choose a PPE with a thicker or thinner sole, a non-slip or energy-absorbing sole in the heel, a waterproof upper, a special lining, and a taller barrel. Or lower.
Protection Quality
The safety boot must also have high protection quality, with a design that encourages use and favors a better fit to the feet to avoid blisters, ulcers, friction, and bruises. After all, the purpose of the EPI is to guarantee stability, comfort, and safety for the worker in carrying out their activity.
Hygiene And Maintenance
Foot safety also involves correct hygiene and maintenance of safety boots—the more accessible and more practical, the better for those who buy and will use PPE. Therefore, check that the products comply with the standards and follow the manufacturer’s maintenance guidelines.
