Obviously the aim of occupational health and safety is to eliminate occupational hazards at source, wherever possible. Where controls need to be put in place, personal protective equipment, including safety boots, has an important part to play in further reducing risks.

  

Safety Features

It is important to check the technical information provided and select appropriate footwear depending on the type of hazards that are encountered in the workplace. There are safety features for wet, hot and cold conditions, cuts and punctures, electrostatic build-up, falling objects, heavy loads, metal and chemical splash.

 

To this end, Dr. Martens has a wide range of stylish footwear in its Industrial Range, including women specific designs, that have safety features designed to protect against particular conditions, all carrying the fixed European standard mark EN345 or the more recent EN ISO 20345. To simplify the decision making process, there are marking codes which range from SB (Safety Basic) through to S3, indicating a high spec safety boot.

 

Statistics from the HSE show slipping and tripping to be the single most common cause of major injury in UK workplaces ¹. Yet appropriate boots or shoes with slip resistant soles go some way towards preventing such accidents.  

Dr. Martens, for example, provides differing options of sole tread, depending on the ‘grip capability’ that is required. In addition to slip resistant soles, a puncture resistant midsole plate will protect against the threat of underfoot hazards. There are sole designs which offer heat resistance to 300°C for 60 seconds, and an anti-static safety feature with an outsole on selected footwear that will discharge static build-up through the shoe to the floor.  

A safety toecap is essential where there is the risk of a shoe being crushed, hit by an object or caught in machinery. For some employees, a basic safety shoe might suffice, combining a smart ‘office’ appearance with the necessary protection should they be required to go onsite. 

 

For warehouses or in ‘clean’ factory settings, a more athletic footwear option is often preferred. Fortunately innovative, advanced technologies can combine the ‘heavy’ durability of a traditional work boot with the ‘light’ nature of an athletic shoe. Dr. Martens has launched three new designs which are lightweight and easy to wear – suitable for light duties but incorporating key S1P safety features necessary for onsite visits. Purlin ST is a multi-purpose eight-tie work boot, whilst Benham ST, a safety hiker boot, and Gunaldo ST, a safety shoe, both combine  a nubuck upper with breathable mesh panels.

In some work conditions, a water-resistant upper will be sufficient; others might require full waterproofing. Dr. Martens has an S3 rigger, Kestrel, which is an easy pull-on workboot utilising a fully waterproof membrane bootie construction.   

 

Importance of Comfort

Protection should not come at the expense of comfort. Ill-fitting, uncomfortable footwear causes discomfort, pain and fatigue all of which set up the worker for further injuries. Dr. Martens is a company with more than 50 years’ experience of boot making. Ensuring the Industrial Range delivers comfort, as well as style, there has been a focus on the construction of the inner work boot, providing extra cushioning and superior shock absorption properties with the footbeds and breathable linings.

To find a suitable boot for the job, it is essential to understand the demands of the work environment and seek out a boot with the combination of features that will provide the appropriate protection. Importantly, buy from a reputable manufacturer to ensure the footwear meets European standards and is certified and stamped with the CE mark.  

 ¹ Source: HSE – Slips & trips and falls from height in Great Britain, 2013