| y Shoes – The Choice of Everyone | | | | toe capped DM’s and hello to the era of |
| What do you do for a living? I bet there are some | | | | handsome shoes with foot protection built in that |
| things about you that give it away. The car that you | | | | nobody ever need know about. |
| drive, the clothes that you wear, the places you | | | | So you know you need safety shoes for your job |
| go… What about the shoes that you wear? | | | | but which ones? Did you know they have varying |
| What do they tell you about someones occupation, | | | | levels of protection depending on what your needs |
| and could they be hiding something? | | | | are? Or did you think they were all the same? |
| A ballerina for example, would wear silk ballet shoes. | | | | You aren’t alone if you think they are all the |
| A jockey long riding boots. What about a bank | | | | same. But we hope our handy guide to the different |
| manager? Shiny, formal shoes maybe? And would a | | | | safety shoes available will help you make the right |
| teacher always wear high heels, or would the | | | | choice for your job, and give you a head start to |
| ‘fun’ teachers wear trainers? Well, I | | | | keeping your feet safe and complying with health |
| think the answer lies in what you are doing that day, | | | | and safety law from the word go. |
| and where you are going. | | | | Safety shoes in the UK must be designed to protect |
| Maybe a teacher is teaching Physical education. In | | | | you against these hazards while providing comfort |
| which case she would wear, I guess, trainers. But, | | | | and style. Products should be manufactured to EN |
| what about if that physical education involved weight | | | | specifications and compliant with standards and |
| lifting? Would she be called upon to wear safety | | | | statutory requirements as necessary for the job in |
| shoes? Are you sure? And are you positive you | | | | hand. Safety shoes should feature, where necessary, |
| would know the difference between normal shoes | | | | anti-static, slip resistant soles and should offer top |
| and safety shoes? | | | | quality and function in regards to grip, cushion and |
| Maybe our bank manager is visiting a construction | | | | weight. They should be made from durable materials |
| site for a new branch of his bank. Would he be | | | | and be resistant to tears, abrasions and scuffs. |
| wearing safety shoes? Again, would you be able to | | | | Some safety shoes feature steel toe caps which |
| tell? | | | | help to protect your toes from injury. These are |
| And our dainty, beautiful ballerina… should she | | | | designed with a survival space inside which stops |
| be called upon to dance in an episode of | | | | crushing weights from affecting your feet up to a |
| ‘Strictly’, well we have all see the | | | | certain level. Sometimes the toe protectors in safety |
| terrible footwork of the fellers on there | | | | shoes can be made of steel, but more modern |
| haven’t we!! Do you really think a professional | | | | varieties feature lightweight reinforced |
| ballerina would risk her million dollar tootsies for the | | | | polycarbonates, giving extra protection without the |
| sake of some B list celebrity and his clumsy | | | | extra weight of a metal fabric in your safety shoes. |
| footwork? | | | | While a form of plastic may not sound very hard |
| The point we are trying to make is that safety | | | | wearing, you can be confident in the knowledge that |
| shoes are no longer just for the dusty construction | | | | the types of plastics used in safety shoes are the |
| worker. They are no longer just for the factory | | | | same as those found in bullet proof glass and riot |
| foreman. A pair of (dare we say it) almost stylish | | | | gear helmets, so is of top quality. |
| safety shoes to suit every lifestyle are now available, | | | | Workers without the correct safety shoe are more |
| and there may be more uses than you think. | | | | at risk to severe and lasting damage to their feet if |
| If you work in the construction or engineering | | | | an accident happens. 3 out of 4 workers have |
| industries, then you will no doubt be familiar with | | | | problems with their feet in their lifetimes and these |
| ‘big boot’ safety shoes. They are | | | | are often a direct result of poor quality, ill fitting |
| compulsory for health and safety reasons, and would | | | | shoes or a lack of awareness around foot care and |
| invalidate insurance if they weren’t worn. But | | | | hygiene. Care should be taken when choosing safety |
| for our teacher, our ballerina, our jockey and many | | | | shoes to ensure they are of the highest quality |
| others, how do they protect their feet? Have you | | | | affordable, that the comfort and fit are good for |
| ever seen safety shoes styled like designer trainers? | | | | your feet, and that the uppers are breathable to |
| What about safety shoes just like funky clogs? What | | | | avoid problems with excess moisture building around |
| about a built in steel toe cap to your riding boot to | | | | your feet and toes which can potentially lead to |
| protect you from the horses iron shod hoof? | | | | problems with foot fungus. |
| Well, they are here, all of them. And I hope that we | | | | Man y safety shoes are available in a range of styles, |
| will soon see safety shoes more frequently available | | | | from clogs to trainers and even formal shoes, so |
| on the mass market as they will prevent avoidable | | | | there is something for everyone. Take account of |
| injury and keep our toes safe for the future. The | | | | the codes on the shoes which denote the level of |
| most attractive thing about this new generation of | | | | protection you are getting. If you work with |
| safety shoe is the fact that nobody ever need know | | | | electricity for example, you should take extra care, |
| you are wearing them. Not that you would be called | | | | as some shoes are designed to conduct electricity, |
| a wimp for protecting your feet or anything but, | | | | whilst others will disperse it. |
| let’s face it, nobody likes feeling different | | | | Safety shoes in the UK should be tested by SATRA |
| from the crowd, so now you can get safety shoes | | | | to ensure they meet quality standards, and should be |
| in a variety of styles, colors and safety ratings to | | | | compliant with EEC directive 89/686/EEC in order for |
| suit your unique situation. Gone are the days of steel | | | | your feet to be properly protected. |