Five Questions to ask before buying safety footwear

We answer some of those questions you may have been faced with when having to choose safety footwear.

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We all like to know we&#;re making the right choice when it comes to purchasing any form of footwear, but for anyone whose job relies on having their feet safe and always protected, functionality is an essential element.

While any footwear certified in accordance with safety standards is obviously your first jumping off point with safety footwear, there&#;s always other requirements and preferences that lead to the decision-making process.

Below are some questions you may - or may not - have thought about when faced with having to choose safety footwear.

Is it okay to wear rigger boots on a construction site?

Once the domain of offshore oil rig workers, regardless of what you may have heard, rigger boots haven&#;t been banned by the HSE. There&#;s no concrete evidence available that rigger boots have be directly at fault in any work-based incidents. 

However, some construction companies have deemed that due to the loose-fitting style - ironically the USP which offers a lifeline to oil riggers surrounded by nothing but ocean - the boots could run the risk of causing foot and ankle injury.

The popularity of rigger boots as a general-purpose work boot is largely down to two obvious benefits &#; comfort and cost. The very nature of the style means they&#;re easy to slip-on and pull-off, with no laces to trip over. The boots&#; faux fur lining is incredibly enticing to workers, particularly on those cold, gloomy months where the prospect of feet being kept warm and cosy is undeniably a much-needed morale boost. 

Affordability-wise, your average pair of riggers won&#;t break the bank and offers an appealing alternative for those who have been offered the kind of shoe allowance from their employer which doesn&#;t stretch to some of the more expensive lace-up boots on the market.

Additionally, alongside steel toe caps, Blackrock riggers offer the additional security of a protective midsole, making this form of safety footwear a functional and aesthetic choice for many.

Is comfort compromised when wearing safety footwear?

The reality is that safety and comfort should go hand-in-hand with workwear. The nature of this type of footwear means the wearer will be largely active throughout the life of the product. This means that comfort is an integral part of the design process. 

Poorly fitting footwear isn&#;t just uncomfortable. It can cause a whole range of foot issues such as blisters, toenail damages and plantar fasciitis, the likes of which may ultimately impact upon the wearer ability to do their job properly. 

You&#;ll find a large variety of fully waterproof products in our collection, which are applicable for all industries.

For those roles which require prolonged standing and walking - such as a warehouse operative &#; we have safety shoes which include EaziStep padded and breathable insoles which offer that much-needed comfort.

But like any other new footwear, there&#;s the usual means of ensuring any initial discomfort is avoided. It won&#;t harm you to put a little time before your first day on the job in conditioning your shoes to bend and stretch with you as you walk.

How safe am I from slipping with slip resistant footwear?

According to the /22 HSE Workplace Health and Safety Report, slips, trips or falls accounted for 30% of all workplace injuries &#; a slight rise from the previous year&#;s reporting. This form of non-fatal injury is by some distance the most common in the workplace, which only emphasises the importance that the PPE offered in this area is up to the demands of lessening such a risk. 

The HSE has developed a GRIP rating scheme with the purpose of allowing footwear users to identify suitable slip resistant footwear as a control measure to reduce their risk of slipping accidents.

This has been at the forefront of Blackrock&#;s footwear design during our recent product development process, hence why it was particularly gratifying for us to achieve a 4-star GRIP rating. 

Our HexaGrip sole is available in the occupational footwear range we sell (more on this below) and features hundreds of small hexagons. It&#;s a shape which is often considered strong and efficient as it can distribute stress evenly across its structure and presents a large surface area which is vital for effective grip, thus reducing the chances of slipping. 

What is the difference between safety footwear and occupational footwear?

First things first, it&#;s prudent to note that occupational footwear adheres to the requirements in the EN standard, rather than the EN safety standard. 

Although the difference between both standards is largely down to the exclusion of a steel toe cap in occupational footwear, there&#;s other benefits to Blackrock&#;s occupational footwear which could ultimately be instrumental in your decision-making. One of these may be particularly appealing to those who work in the emergency services.

Bloodborne pathogens are microorganisms in human blood that can cause disease in humans. These are often transmitted by pre-used needles or other sharps puncturing the skin and any other accidental punctures, cuts or abrasions.

This kind of occupational footwear is a huge benefit for hospital staff and paramedics who are most likely to encounter blood spills at work. Whilst the probability of other emergency services encountering blood spills is lower, the repercussions of infection can obviously be huge.

What&#;s more, our full occupational footwear range is bloodborne pathogen resistant so why wouldn&#;t you protect yourself against this potential hazard?

What other protection is available through occupational footwear?

Occupational footwear is associated largely with the police force, where protection and performance are two of the major requirements in the ability to maintain public safety. Blackrock's own range features a metal-free, penetration-resistant midsole, which comes as standard in all seven styles &#; a huge selling point for those in the force.

However, the demands of a paramedic are such that they certainly require extra stability when it comes to that the fast-paced, high-pressured daily challenges of working in that environment. 

But it&#;s not just paramedics who are constantly using on and off their feet - delivery drivers, postal service and those in the transport sector need that security and sturdiness. 

The performance gained by wearing occupational footwear in those industries outside of law enforcement not only ensures that individuals can perform their job to the best of their ability, but the protective characteristics of occupational footwear can also offer additional peace of mind for wearers.

EN ISO standard :

WHAT EXACTLY IS CHANGING?

The new EN ISO : standard for safety footwear was published in June . It replaces the previous EN ISO : standard and contains some important changes. The standard specifies basic requirements for safety footwear that apply to all types of workplaces. It also contains additional requirements that apply to certain workplaces or activities. The publication of this standard is accompanied by a number of important updates designed to improve the protection of wearers. These include new test procedures, new additional requirements and improved labelling.
To mention just one new feature: footwear that meets the additional requirement of waterproofness of the entire shoe (WR) has now been defined in two new classes: S2 WR (=S6) and S3 WR (=S7).
The new EN ISO : standard is an important step towards improving occupational health and safety. This is because it contains stricter requirements and new test procedures designed to increase the safety of safety footwear. At ELTEN, all newly produced safety shoes are already tested and certified according to the new standard. In our shoe tutorial, we go through all the important changes for you.

SAFETY SHOES MUST FIT WELL

HOW TO FIND SAFETY SHOES IN THE RIGHT SIZE

No shoes are worn so long and frequently as safety shoes. In industry, trade or on the building site, safety shoes are worn constantly for several hours every day. The main thing for safety shoes that are worn for several hours every day is: a proper fit! This is because if they chafe or pinch, people don&#;t like to wear them or don&#;t wear them at all &#; meaning no more protection. If blisters, inflammations and chronic pressure points develop, this also has a negative effect on the well-being. The sufferer is less productive and has difficulty concentrating at work. This increases the error rate and the risk of accidents. Conversely, a better fit and greater comfort always translates into greater safety, because people are happy to wear comfortable shoes, and will wear them on a regular basis.

When trying on safety shoes, it becomes clear very quickly whether or not they feel right. However, this does not mean that the size of the selected safety shoes is the right one. Many people make the mistake of always choosing the same size, although this can vary depending on the manufacturer. As a result, many people in industry or trade wear shoes that are too small or too large &#; and have become accustomed to this. Reliable information about the size of safety shoes can be obtained by measuring the foot and providing information about foot length and width, &#; and in some cases about any incorrect foot positions.

HOW TO KNOW WHEN YOUR SHOES FIT

THE FINAL FINGER TEST

Safety risks in the workplace must be avoided at all costs &#; also for your feet. Comfortable safety shoes are an important part of personal protective equipment (PPE). When it comes to wearer comfort, details such as Ergo-Active 2.0, different widths for feet of different widths and soles with special cushioning technology now make work easier. This is not something to be overlooked when it comes to occupational safety. After all, people are happy to wear shoes that are comfortable for long periods of time. Only then can they effectively protect against injuries.
When buying shoes, however, how do you know whether or not they fit and fit well? Shoes fit properly when the toe length, ball width, heel width and foot length are suited to the type of foot. You can find this out, for example, by taking individual foot measurements or with a simple finger test, which we would like to present in more detail in our ShoeTorial video.

FINDING SHOES THAT FIT

WITH COMFORTABLE ADDED VALUES AND ERGO-ACTIVE 2.0

No shoes are worn so long and frequently as safety shoes. In industry, trade or on the building site, the safety shoes are worn for several hours every day, but what is the point if they are uncomfortable and fit badly? The main thing for safety shoes that are used for several hours every day is a proper fit! That&#;s because if they chafe or pinch, they become an additional burden. For example, if the toes are no longer in the correct position, they will slip behind the toe cap and the shoes will no longer protect them sufficiently in the case of an accident. Especially people with very wide or thick toes tend to buy shoes that are too large for them.

For this reason, for some safety shoe models we offer a comfortable multi-width system that gives each foot the individual space it needs by providing more volume in the forefoot area. We have also adapted the protective toe cap accordingly: It has &#;grown&#; in width and offers effective protection because it also covers the toe area well at the sides and the necessary residual height is maintained. Shoes with XW in the product name stand for a wider fit. They have a wide toe cap, a wide ball of the foot and a large instep volume. Models with XXW in the name are suitable for very big feet. These models likewise have a wide toe cap, but have an extra-wide ball of the foot and a particularly large instep volume &#; for optimally fitting shoes even in the case of stout feet.

In addition, we have been working intensively with experts from the scientific community for many years to develop innovative solutions for shoes that fit. For example, the Ergo-Active 2.0 series was developed from the latest research results in cooperation with Prof. Dr. Grau (University of Tübingen/Gothenburg). The ERGO-ACTIVE system consists of three different fits for the most common foot types and thus solves typical fit problems individually. The lasts &#; three variants per size &#; take into account not only the length and width of the foot, but also toe length, heel width and the angular position of the foot.

Adapted to the women&#;s foot

How to find safety shoes in the right size

No shoes are worn so long and frequently as safety shoes. In industry, trade or on the building site, safety shoes are worn constantly for several hours every day. The main thing for safety shoes that are worn for several hours every day is: a proper fit! This is because if they chafe or pinch, people don&#;t like to wear them or don&#;t wear them at all &#; meaning no more protection. If blisters, inflammations and chronic pressure points develop, this also has a negative effect on the well-being. The sufferer is less productive and has difficulty concentrating at work. This increases the error rate and the risk of accidents. Conversely, a better fit and greater comfort always translates into greater safety, because people are happy to wear comfortable shoes, and will wear them on a regular basis.

If you want to learn more, please visit our website Jianlida.

When trying on safety shoes, it becomes clear very quickly whether or not they feel right. However, this does not mean that the size of the selected safety shoes is the right one. Many people make the mistake of always choosing the same size, although this can vary depending on the manufacturer. As a result, many people in industry or trade wear shoes that are too small or too large &#; and have become accustomed to this. Reliable information about the size of safety shoes can be obtained by measuring the foot and providing information about foot length and width, &#; and in some cases about any incorrect foot positions.

THREE FOOT TYPES FOR AN OPTIMAL FIT

WHAT YOU SHOULD LOOK FOR WHEN BUYING THE RIGHT SHOE

People&#;s feet are as different as they are. With our Ergo-Active technology, everyone can find the right safety shoe for them. Three foot types, three outsoles, two cap widths. Whether you have wide feet with short toes and a wide ball and heel width or narrow feet with medium-length toes and a narrow ball and heel width: there is something for everyone. Different sized toe caps provide the space needed for each foot. The special feature: Ergo-Active adapts to the expansion of the foot as it moves. Ergo-Active also has suitable solutions for mostly narrower women&#;s feet. More choice makes for more security. Therefore, there are three different non-slip sole profiles: indoor with an innovative pivot sole and outdoor with two different tread heights. Ergo-Active optimises the wearing comfort. Also, the risk of foot complaints and accidents is significantly reduced.

THREE FOOT TYPES FOR AN OPTIMAL FIT

WHAT YOU SHOULD LOOK FOR WHEN BUYING THE RIGHT SHOE

People&#;s feet are as different as they are. With our Ergo-Active technology, everyone can find the right safety shoe for them. Three foot types, three outsoles, two cap widths. Whether you have wide feet with short toes and a wide ball and heel width or narrow feet with medium-length toes and a narrow ball and heel width: there is something for everyone. Different sized toe caps provide the space needed for each foot. The special feature: Ergo-Active adapts to the expansion of the foot as it moves. Ergo-Active also has suitable solutions for mostly narrower women&#;s feet. More choice makes for more security. Therefore, there are three different non-slip sole profiles: indoor with an innovative pivot sole and outdoor with two different tread heights. Ergo-Active optimises the wearing comfort. Also, the risk of foot complaints and accidents is significantly reduced.

Heavy or lightweight work shoes

It all depends on the area of use!

Lightweight work shoes are not always necessarily the best shoes for the job. Everyone will have a different area of use &#; and thus different requirements for their footwear. When buying safety shoes, it is therefore essential to consider the working conditions on site &#; and not necessarily the weight of the safety shoes. Lightweight work shoes may make sense in a warehouse, but they are less suitable for tough work on construction sites. The most important questions when buying safety shoes are: Will I be working indoors or outdoors? What hazards are there? Which safety classes do I need? Do I need a low shoe or a boot? Depending on the area of use, you can then find the right safety shoes to get you through the working day safely.

The perfect sole for heavy duty use

The hard sole of safety shoes

It is robust, resistant against cuts and slipping and provides stability, and also prevents skidding and twisting of the ankle on unsafe surfaces: Hard soles made of materials such as rubber or

A person who does not have secure contact with the floor in his or her shoes at work often unconsciously moves in a cramped manner due to the constant threat of stumbling, twisting and slipping. This puts excessive strain on the musculoskeletal system, which may lead to consequences that start as foot pain, become noticeable in the knee and hip joints and can ultimately affect the spine. Even neck tension and headaches often originate in the foot area. For this reason, on rubble, debris or muddy-loamy ground, a hard sole is necessary that can withstand tough working environments such as those of steel workers, road builders, roofers or in the glass processing industry. In addition, rubber soles can be used in hot areas due to their heat resistance.

Good cushioning for working indoors

Where shoes with a soft sole are used

Shoes with soft soles are used especially in dry indoor areas where workers have to do jobs that require them to stand, walk or kneel all the time. Such tasks place a particular strain on the back, feet, hips and knees, which is why shoes with soft soles must have good cushioning.

Our WELLMAXX models, for example, have springy and cushioning properties &#; with Infinergy® from BASF in the sole core. Thousands of small foam particles containing tiny, closed air cells inside mean that the sole can be compressed to an extreme degree. This cushions the impact of the foot and allows the sole to spring back to its original shape at lightning speed when the pressure is released. Much of the energy is transferred back to the wearer. This means that workers need to exert less force when walking Even when wearing shoes with soft soles for several hours, the feet tire more slowly. Whether in logistics, production or the service industry &#; the wearer can expect a pleasant and surprisingly comfortable feeling even on industrial floors, which are often hard.

WELL CUSHIONED THROUGH EVERYDAY WORKING LIFE

THE SOLUTION FOR ALL THOSE WHO ARE CONSTANTLY ON THEIR FEET

In jobs that require you to be permanently standing, walking or kneeling, good footwear is the be-all and end-all. These jobs place a particular strain on the back, feet and joints, which well-cushioned shoes can absorb. For example, our WELLMAXX models have a special technology in the outsole: Infinergy® from BASF. Lots of foam particles, which have closed air cells inside them, ensure that they can be compressed extraordinarily well. This technology cushions the impact of the foot and immediately springs the sole back to its original shape. Much of the energy is therefore returned to the wearer immediately, which means they use less power and energy. Whether indoors or outdoors: even when worn for multiple hours, our WELLMAXX models make everyday work noticeably easier. Here, safety and comfort go hand in hand.

Great soles for outdoor use

With a chunky tread

Anyone who works on construction sites, in gardening and landscaping or in forestry will be well aware of the problem: the ground outside is often slippery or uneven. Therefore, soles with a chunky tread make a lot of sense for outdoor use. After all, it is a question of ensuring stability, preventing skidding and twisting of the ankle as well as weather resistance. The tread of the outsole plays a major role. It creates the connection between the body and the ground. A person who does not have secure contact with the floor in his or her shoes at work often unconsciously moves in a cramped manner due to the constant threat of stumbling. This puts excessive strain on the musculoskeletal system, which may lead to consequences that start as foot pain, become noticeable in the knee and hip joints and can ultimately affect the spine.

A chunky sole tread hugely reduces the risk of slipping on wet or frozen ground. It also offers greater safety when walking over rubble, debris or on muddy-loamy ground.

The fine sole tread

For slippery indoor floors

A fine sole tread is suitable for working on extremely slippery floors, e.g. in logistics or in large-scale industry. The shoes must provide a secure grip and minimise the risk of slipping or even twisting the ankle; on the other hand, they must make it easy to turn on the floor and not become &#;stoppers&#;.

Good cushioning is important, especially for those who have to move around on hard floors for many hours. Therefore, when buying safety shoes, you should not only pay attention to size, appearance and protective toe cap, but also to the quality of the sole.

An anti-slip effect is achieved, for example, through small honeycomb elements in the sole tread. They create a negative pressure and a kind of suction effect. This results in slip resistance of the SRC category. SRC means that in a test procedure, the sole was slip-resistant even on ceramic tiles with cleaning agents and on steel floors with glycerine. However, in order to still be able to move loosely and easily despite slip resistance, soles with pivot points are ideal, as they significantly reduce any frictional resistance. Additional flex grooves in the sole improve the rolling of the foot and make it easier to bend at the knees.

ESD SAFETY SHOES FOR EVERYDAY WORK

WHEN THEY ARE PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT

When working with sensitive electronic components, it is important to avoid electrostatic discharges (ESD). This is because they can cause damage to the components. ESD safety shoes help to reduce the risk of ESD damage. Electrostatic discharges are usually caused by friction or contact between two different materials. Anyone who has ever walked across a carpet in shoes with a rubber sole, for example, will be familiar with this phenomenon. An electrical charge can build up on one of the materials. If this charge is then suddenly discharged, an ESD discharge can occur. This can quickly become a problem in everyday working life. This is because ESD damage can have various effects on electronic components, such as damaging the semiconductor structure, changing the electrical properties or damaging the connections. In some cases, ESD damage can even lead to total failure of the electronic component. This is where the ESD capability of safety shoes comes into play. They have a special sole that dissipates the electrostatic charge, as the material used is particularly conductive. ESD safety shoes therefore help to reduce the risk of ESD damage. In our shoe tutorial, we take a closer look at the topic.

It all comes down to the right step

Fields of application of anti-penetration inserts

Penetration protection is achieved either by means of a midsole made of steel or textile. In our safety shoes of protection classes S1P and S3 we use both a metal and a textile anti-penetration insert. Both versions fulfil the additional penetration protection requirements of the EN ISO /5 standard.

When working with thin nails and cutting objects, a metal anti-penetration insert is recommended, e.g. on construction sites. Steel midsoles are less affected by the shape of the object (e.g. diameter and geometric form) or dangerous characteristics (e.g. sharpness). Nails or other sharp objects lying around on the construction site are deflected and bent over on the steel sole. It is for this reason that we use midsoles made of stainless steel, especially in our robust safety boots such as the RENZO Mid ESD S3.

There are some areas of use, however, where metal insoles are unsuitable and hinder work processes &#; e.g. at airports or in the area of security gates with metal detectors. Textile midsoles are also more comfortable to wear in industrial halls or workshops. They are also often used for tasks performed by public authorities, which require shoes that are very flexible.

Steel vs. textile

Different types of anti-penetration insoles

Compared to metal midsoles, textile midsoles offer the advantage of covering almost the entire area of the sole. With metal midsoles, a more or less unprotected edge area remains. Due to limitations in shoe manufacturing, it is not possible to cover the entire tread area, but only about 85% of the area. Textile insoles makes the shoes more comfortable to wear. On the whole, they are more flexible.

Textile midsoles also have disadvantages, however: they can be impaired by the shape and size of a sharp object. Cutting objects such as shards of glass that become entangled in the weave of the textile or pierce the insole when higher forces are applied, such as jumping from a height, represent a residual risk that cannot be disregarded. For higher demands in terms of penetration protection, for example in the construction industry, the use of safety shoes with steel midsoles is recommended.

ORTHOPAEDIC MEASURES?

HOW TO MAINTAIN EFFECTIVE PROTECTION

Safety shoes are mandatory in many professions to protect against injuries. But what happens if people have foot deformities or other orthopaedic problems? Orthopaedic modifications to safety shoes can be a solution in these cases. Customised insoles or corresponding adjustments can help to compensate for misalignments, alleviate pain and improve the function of the foot. But be careful: any modification to a safety shoe has the potential to impair its protective function, making it less effective. Anyone who uses an orthopaedic insole or has their safety shoes orthopaedically adjusted must ensure that the safety shoe still complies with the applicable standards.
Many of our safety shoes are already certified for orthopaedic adjustments when they are manufactured. Orthopaedic specialists help to make the appropriate adjustment according to each individual&#;s needs. This is important because only a specialist company can guarantee that the protective properties of the shoes are maintained.

For more freshness at the workplace

Our tips against sweaty feet

Tip 1: Wash your feet regularly

If you don&#;t want your feet to sweat and smell bad, you should wash them regularly &#; not just two or three times a week, but every morning. Afterwards, you should dry them thoroughly, as a warm and humid environment can promote athlete&#;s foot. You should also scrub between the toes to remove any residual moisture.

Tip 2: Wear the right socks

Damp socks are also a breeding ground for bacteria and can cause sweaty feet, but the material and fit of the socks are also crucial. Socks with a high percentage of synthetic fibres are more durable and less absorbent than natural fibres, as they do not store moisture caused by perspiration but wick it away to the outside. Socks made of 100% wool, on the other hand, are &#;absorbent&#; but only release a small amount of moisture back to the outside. It is also important that the socks fit well, as poorly fitting socks create friction and thus additional heat inside the shoe.

Tip 3: Give your shoes a break

Even shoes need a break from time to time. Over the course of the day, a person expels up to half a litre of moisture through their feet. The residual moisture that remains in the shoe at the end of a working day does not usually dry overnight. It is therefore advisable to wear safety shoes in rotation.

In dry work areas, it is worth considering safety sandals or alternatively perforated shoes with holes in the side for extra freshness. For outdoor work, safety shoes with a GORE-TEX® membrane are ideal. The membrane ensures that rain and moisture from the outside cannot penetrate into the shoe and that moisture can evaporate from the inside.

Say farewell to sweaty feet

Sweaty feet are a thing of the past

Shoes that are too big or too small cause friction, which generates heat and thus sweaty feet. As a general rule, you should make sure that safety shoes fit the shape of your feet. Pressure or chafing points are a sure sign that the shoes do not fit properly. Many women, for example, simply go for the smaller men&#;s size. Yet foot protection that is specially adapted to the anatomy of the female foot has been available for a long time. Moreover, there are safety shoes for men that have been developed for special needs. These include, for example, models designed for extra wide feet.

In addition, you should opt for safety shoes made of high-quality and breathable materials to prevent sweaty feet. These are fitted with textile lining materials, for example, which serve to regulate moisture. Some models also have a GORE-TEX® membrane; this is not only waterproof and wind-proof, but also breathable.

Sweaty feet are not only caused by inferior lining materials, but also by slow-drying and absorbent socks &#; including cheap synthetic/polyester socks that heat up the foot, or cotton socks that dry poorly. For this reason, choosing the right socks is also crucial.

THE BODYGUARD FOR THE FEET

PREVENT TRIPPING AND TWISTING NOW

Our safety shoes with BIOMEX PROTECTION© are like a bodyguard for your feet! The cuff helps prevent accidents like twisting your foot &#; one of the most common causes of injury in everyday working life. Sprains, dislocations or torn ligaments are among the most common injuries. With our knee protection, these injuries specifically and a long downtime can be prevented.

BIOMEX PROTECTION© stabilises the ankle as it moves and protects it against these hazards. Despite the joint protection, the shoe remains pleasantly light, flexible and does not cause pressure points or circulation problems. The cuff also follows the natural movement axes of the joints in the foot and knee as they move towards the centre of the body. It is constructed asymmetrically and is positioned protectively in front of the ligaments. This reduces the risk of twisting considerably.

Twisting accidents with injuries to ligaments, muscles and joints are often very painful, complicated and protracted. In many cases, BIOMEX technology prevents this from happening in the first place. BIOMEX PROTECTION© can help avoid hospital stays and long downtimes with frequently difficult healing processes.

The company is the world’s best Aircushion Sole Safety Shoes Manufacturers supplier. We are your one-stop shop for all needs. Our staff are highly-specialized and will help you find the product you need.