What you need to be able to get the right safety shoes？

In the modern industrial world, there are a variety of types of workplace safety shoes as a more common type of protective equipment. Whether it is smash-proof safety shoes, puncture-proof safety shoes or anti-static safety shoes, or even smash-proof and puncture-proof insulated safety shoes, you can find the labour protection shoes you want on the market if you need them.

To protect the legs and feet from falling objects, rolling, sharp objects, molten metal, hot surfaces, slippery surfaces, workers must use appropriate foot protection, safety shoes or boots or leg wraps. The steel toe guard of safety shoes must be sufficiently functional to prevent impact with heavy and sharp objects, in accordance with national standards.

The purchase of safety shoes is an investment to avoid the high cost of workplace injuries.

Purchasing safety shoes is a sign of care and concern for the safety of employees at work.

Wearing safety shoes gives your family peace of mind.

If you want to buy safety shoes with safe and reliable protection, how do you choose them?

Safety shoes are classified according to their function: toe protection shoes, insulating shoes, anti-static shoes, conductive shoes, steel shoes, rubber boots, cold-proof shoes.

(1) Toe protection shoes. Mainly to prevent objects from smashing the surface of the feet and toes. Such as rolling drums, heavy pipes or inadvertent kicks on sharp metal plates when carrying heavy objects or loading and unloading materials. The front toe of the shoe is lined with impact resistant, high strength, light weight metal material, the strength and impact resistance of which should be tested and meet the required standards before use. Note that different strength safety shoes should be selected according to the weight of the work.

(2) Insulating shoes. The role of insulated shoes is to reduce the risk of electric shock to a minimum. Because the electric current flows through the body to the ground via the contact point when electrocuted, electrical work should not only wear insulated gloves, but also insulated shoes. There are several types of insulated shoes available in the 20kV, 6kV and 5kV range, which should be selected according to the scope of work. Insulating shoes should be inspected and maintained regularly, if they are damp or badly worn, they will not provide protection.

(3) Anti-static and conductive shoes. Anti-static shoes are used to prevent accidents caused by electrostatic charges on the human body, as well as to avoid accidental electric shocks to the human body caused by 220V industrial frequency capacitive equipment. Electrically conductive shoes are used in places that are more sensitive to static electricity in the human body where fires or explosions may occur. Some of these shoes are safety shoes and rubber shoes equipped with anti-static or conductive soles, with no metal used throughout the shoe to reduce the possibility of frictional fires. The shoes are tested for resistance from the start of use. This is followed by regular testing to ensure that the shoe’s zui resistance does not exceed the permitted value.

(4) Steelmaking shoes and shoe covers. These shoes, also known as casters’ shoes, are primarily protected against burning and stabbing of the foot. Such shoes should be pressure resistant, not easy to burn, the upper has an oil-impregnated cowhide surface and canvas veneer, the sole are tyre soles lined with cowhide. To prevent burns from molten metal splashes, they are made in a high-waisted, easy-to-remove style. Shoe covers can also be used to cover the mouth of the shoe and the trouser leg, and are mostly made of canvas, asbestos and aluminium film.

(5) Rubber boots. According to their use, there are acid and alkali resistant boots, waterproof boots, oil resistant shoes and so on. Acid and alkali boots are suitable for work where there are acid and alkali and other corrosive liquids on the ground, and are made of acid and alkali resistant rubber, and there are also acid and alkali resistant trouser boots with trouser boots attached to them. Oil-proof shoes are used for work where there is oil on the ground, made of rubber or polyethylene plastic, and there are a variety of boots and shoes.

(6)Cold-proof shoes. Suitable for cold and low-temperature environment operations, there are cotton shoes, fur boots and felt boots, etc., with good insulation performance.

Choosing the right safety shoes.

According to estimated standards, the most important feature of industrial safety shoes is the ability of the toe to withstand the impact of a 20kg hard object dropped vertically from a height of one metre and to absorb 200 joules of kinetic energy. Most contemporary safety shoes also add other safety features, developing different categories of products. These include a rigid sole version designed to prevent the sole of the foot from being pierced by nails and other sharp objects. Other relevant features include slip resistance [forward motion] and grip [backward motion]. Other safety features of the soles include pre-determined minimum anti-static properties, resistance to temperature changes, resistance to specific fuels and chemical acids and alkalis.

Comfort and hygiene

Comfortable safety shoes improves worker productivity and prevents the development of chronic foot or leg diseases.

Important indicators of comfort performance include the need for the upper material to meet specific standards of waterproofing and breathability, and the lining material should easily absorb perspiration, [dissipate easily after removal] and odour.

Other safety features include a well-fitting sole design, support for the foot and arch, softness and flexibility, underfoot padding and heel shock protection.

Durable

Industrial safety shoes are made from cowhide or buffalo leather. The soles are usually moulded directly into the upper, resulting in a comparable bond and minimising the risk of stripping, water ingress or sand ingress. The soles are resistant to wear, abrasion and punctures, so that they can be used for a long period of time, even in difficult working conditions.

When choosing safety shoes and boots, the following 5 points can be followed:

(1) In addition to choosing the right type of protective shoes according to the working conditions, they should also fit well and be comfortable to wear, which is important to carefully select the right shoe size.

(2) Protective shoes should be designed to be slip resistant, not only to protect the feet from injury, but also to prevent accidents caused by slipping and falling on the operator.

(3) A variety of different performance protective shoes should meet the technical specifications of their respective protective performance, such as the requirement that the toes are not smashed, the soles of the feet are not pierced, and that the insulation is electrically conductive. But safety shoes are not.

(4) Protective shoes should be carefully checked or tested before use. In electrical and acid and alkali work, broken and cracked protective shoes are dangerous.

(5) Protective shoes should be stored properly after use. Rubber shoes should be rinsed with water or disinfectant and dried after use to prolong their service life.