Steps towards greater safety

Feet are exposed to a variety of hazards in the workplace, yet their role is often forgotten. Here,Graham Abbott, sales and marketing director, UVEX (UK), explains some of the key considerations in the selection of safety footwear

Prolonged standing, walking, climbing, handling heavy machinery, falling objects, and slippery or sharp surfaces all pose potential dangers to feet, while slips, trips and falls account for the highest number of work-related major injuries in the UK ? over a thousand per month ? and over two million sick days are lost every year through lower limb disorders.

However, the pain, disability and time off work caused by these accidents could be in the main avoided if practical actions and precautions are taken, such as keeping floors clean and dry and gangways clear of obstructions, fitting special flooring, and providing appropriate safety footwear.

Ironically, the workplaces that appear clean and tidy can often be the ones where slip and trips are most likely to happen.Wet floors are a common cause of these, as are the concreted and painted floors of a lot of modern factories. Indeed, sometimes the most dangerous environments can actually be the safest ones, as people are more aware of potential hazards and will pay more attention to them.

The HSE's ongoing Slips and Trips Programme is currently reviewing the role played by slip-resistant footwear in the prevention of slips and trips, to identify what more needs to be done by the industry and regulators.

At uvex, we aim to explain which products are the most suitable within the standards that our customers specify, via our website, brochures and catalogues and through our work with the HSE. Each of our products comes with the relevant standard and icons indicating the features it includes.

However, it is sometimes frustrating for manufacturers as many companies focus upon the price of the product rather than the technical performance such as impact/slip resistance or other safety related tests that have been performed.

A footwear product should not be judged on its slip-resistance test results alone. In a factory, where there may be slippery wet floors in addition to contamination, a shoe with a soft sole compound with small cleats on the base may not be suitable, as it could gather contamination and be prone to wear quickly due to the soft material needed to attain the slip resistance.

We welcome the fact that our customers are increasingly asking questions. To obtain feedback from our users in factories with slip-resistance issues, we visit the area where the product will be used, looking at the different types of contamination and other issues, and put forward solutions.We then instigate a trial process, letting the individual try the product we think is appropriate for four to six weeks before buying it.

Safety footwear fulfils a multitude of roles.

It is not only about the impact on the toecap, but much more about other functions. The tread pattern can protect against slipping, the type of material under the foot can protect from heat and cuts, and good safety footwear that incorporates shock absorbing elements can help prevent/reduce musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs).

The foot produces a lot of moisture, so breathability and hygiene are important, especially if an individual is working for long periods of time, so the product needs to keep the foot dry. To maximise safety and efficiency, safety footwear has to be worn; the wearer must be willing to wear it. It sounds obvious, but the company involved should provide the people who must wear safety footwear with an appropriate product.

Comfort is a big factor ? 8h a day in a pair of shoes that are killing you is far from ideal.

A lot of work goes into understanding how the foot works, its movement and where slip resistance is required, for example where the ball of the foot hits the ground, movement through the step and where potential slip issues are.We are also looking at new compounds, materials and tread patterns.

No one type of safety footwear meets all requirements. There are different toecap materials available, for example steel, aluminium and non-metallic toecaps. Plastics were brought in to try to reduce the weight of the product and because they are unlikely to be influenced by ambient temperature.

Everyone has their own idea of what is fashionable, so it's useful to have a selection of safety footwear ? all of which meets the relevant standards.