We all know that footwear is a deeply personal thing. Some have wide feet, high arched feet, big feet, and small feet. That’s why WearerTech have worked with Salford University to research what happens when you spend long hours on your feet, how footwear can be used to change this and how conditions and foot pain can be reduced or prevented.
But safety footwear isn’t always straightforward, how can you tell which material is best or whether a shoe is going to be comfortable or worth the investment especially when buying online? Well, we’ll talk you through the main topics to look out for, comfort, safety, and the cost vs benefits factor.
What makes a work or safety shoe comfortable?
There are many factors that contribute towards a comfortable work shoe including the materials used, the way the shoe is engineered, the last the shoe is constructed on etc. Let’s go through the different components of the shoe:
- The Upper
It is important to make sure the material has breathable or breathability qualities – having a constant air flow through the shoes is imperative to maintaining a healthy foot climate, if your shoes aren’t breathable, fungal infections are more likely to develop - The Lining
Seam-free linings removes the likelihood of friction/pressure build-up, seams often cause friction which often result in blisters. - Toe Area
When looking for comfortable safety shoes, it’s important to make sure there is plenty of wiggle room for your toes to spread out naturally, especially in shoes with a safety toe cap. - Heel Area
Make sure the material in the inside of the shoe at the back that cups around your heel is cushioned and flexible. Our research with Salford University has also showed us that by increasing the height of the heel slightly, it disperses the weight more evenly over the whole foot which relieves the pressure on certain areas and improves overall posture. - Midsole
The midsole is the part under the upper but above the non-slip outsole – this needs to be a shock absorbing material such as EVA which relieves the stresses and strains put on your body from being on your feet all day.
What are the safety features to look out for?
Keeping safe at work is obviously top of your priority, whatever job role you’re in. Safety rules are often complicated and it’s sometimes hard to make out what this means in real life.
- Safety Toe Cap
Depending on your job role, you may need a safety toe cap. Often this is mandated by the company, but it also may be down to a personal choice on whether you’re prepared to take the risk of dropping a knife or weight on your toe or whether you’d rather be safe than sorry. Look for the certification EN20345 which means the toe cap has passed the standard of 200-joules impact-resistance (equivalent to an 80kg weight dropped 1,020mm onto the toes) and a 15KN compression test. - Non-Slip Outsole
Slip resistance or non-slip outsoles to keep you upright on your feet all day. Slips, trips and falls are the biggest contributors to workplace accidents. The highest non-slip standard is 5-star grip rating by the HSL (Health & Safety Laboratory), you can view the grip ratings here. This test is thought to best represent real-life working environments and really does put the shoes through their paces.
Footwear which has passed the EN test for slip resistance will be marked with one of the following codes, SRA, SRB or SRC, these are European test standards which although they are good tests and generally mean that the slip resistance is good, it’s not as representative as real working environments.
How to weigh up costs vs benefits when buying work footwear
Our feet are the foundation to our bodies, and our point of contact with the ground. You can’t really put a price on being comfortable and safe at work. So, when weighing up the costs vs benefits, it’s also good to consider the following factors:
- Durability
- Product Warranty
- Returns Policy
This is the final checklist to ensure you’re getting the value that you need from your safety footwear to make sure it works for you. By getting the benefits that are going to make such a difference to your personal health, this is going to have an impact on your performance at work – by being comfortable, you’re in less pain which equals a happier, more productive you!
