Stepping up comfort and safety
June 1st 2009 A sometimes neglected side of PPE, safety footwear has come under the spotlight recently with the HSE's
ongoing Slips & Trips programme.Graham Dobson looks at what to consider when procuring footwear
Three key areas need to be
addressed in the procurement of
safety footwear for any workplace.
Firstly, the end user must have
comfortable, correctly designed and
fitted footwear they are happy to wear
day in, day out and which is suitable for
the environment in which they operate.
Secondly, the purchaser needs to be
satisfied that he or she is getting quality
products with longevity which will give
good value for money. Thirdly, the safety
officer or team in charge of procurement
must ensure they have fulfilled their legal
duty under the Personal Protective
Equipment at Work Regulations 1999.
This states that workers are supplied
with footwear that is appropriate
for their feet, occupation, and
specific to their workplace
environment.
Getting started with a
risk assessment
A company carrying out a risk
assessment needs either to
remove or reduce workplace
risks as stipulated in The
Management of Health and
Safety at Work Regulations 1999
and the Health and Safety at
Work Act 1974. If it is found
that there are risks to feet or
risks of slipping in the
workplace then a company is
required by law to supply
safety or specialist
footwear at no cost
to the worker. In
addition to the
supply of
safety or
specialist
footwear the
employer must also
ensure that clear
instructions are provided
to all workers on how to
use PPE footwear
safely.
End user requirements
Once the risk assessment is complete the
safety officer should have a check list of
footwear requirements to ensure the
shoes or boots are fit for purpose.
Considerations include;
Toe protection – are steel or carbon
fibre toe caps
required
Slip resistance – flexible and anti-slip
soles needed for inside or outside
environments
Heat resistance – anti-flammable soles
and uppers as well as heat blocking
material
Oil and chemical resistance –
components of the footwear which
provide barrier protection
Anti-static – specific to workers in the
oil and gas industries to ensure
dissipation of static charges which can
lead to flashing
Waterproofness - vital for workers in
outdoor occupations where foul
weather protection is required
Breathability – to provide wearer
comfort and day long foot moisture
management
Width fittings – to ensure footwear
support and feet health
Warmth protection – specific for
winter working conditions
EN footwear standards
For whichever industry occupational or
safety footwear is required there are
performance and safety standards set out
and maintained by the European
Committee of Standardization (CEN).
These standards are called European
Norms (EN's) and provide a guideline to
the absolute minimum required to be
certified for a specific end use. Formal
European Standards (EN's) from CEN
have a unique status to a specific
industry, end use or construction and are
national standards in each of CEN's 30
Member countries.
When going through the procurement
procedure with selected supplier/s insist
on footwear which complies with the
relevant EN standard – EN345: Safety
Footwear or EN347: Occupational
Footwear. These standards should be
clearly labelled with the details of that
standard on the inside of the boot or shoe.
To find the correct European Norm for
your own footwear requirements log on to
www.cen.eu and go to the 'finding
standards' section where you can obtain a
free to download list of all registered EN's.
Testing and trialing in situ
Once end user requirements are
established and safety procurement
officers are working with quality suppliers
for the provision of footwear, it is strongly
recommended that end user trials take
place. As a general guide the procurement
process should take approximately six to
18 months from start to finish.
'Field Testing' with continual end user
feedback is vital and should never be under
estimated as it helps to fine tune the specific
requirements and avoids wastage and error.
Wearer Comfort
Another reason a safety officer should
demand wearer trials during this process is
comfort. Workers who are entitled by law
to have their safety or occupational
footwear supplied by their employer
should be provided with a comfort as well
as a safety solution. Unlike garments, such
as jackets or mid-layers which can easily be
added or removed as required, footwear is
worn throughout a shift or an entire day.
Discomfort from safety or occupational
footwear can result in it not being actually
worn at all. Highly breathable boots should
be given serious consideration due to the
fact that during an average working day a
foot will produce perspiration equivalent
to half a cup of liquid. For outdoor
53489 or www.hsmsearch.com/enquiry
workers, breathable and waterproof
footwear protection from foul weather,
such as rain, sleet and snow, will avoid
reduction in the core temperature of feet.
Summary
These are the most significant points to
consider when procuring occupational
and safety footwear:
Adopt a considered and methodical
procurement process for safety and
occupational footwear
Carry out a full risk assessment
Learn which EN Standard is required
Insist on wearer trials to ensure end
user satisfaction for comfort,
protection and fit
Work only with a reputable and
established safety footwear
manufacturer who has the experience
and expertise to ensure the footwear
supplied offers the best solution and fit
for its intended end use
Graham Dobson is an employee of Gore
Workwear Associates
SHOE GIVEAWAY!
GORE WORKWEAR and brand partners (Haix,
Goliath, Steitz and Sievi) are giving you the chance to
win one of five pairs of waterproof, breathable and
comfortable safety work boots/ shoes. To be in with a
chance of winning name one of the four GORE
WORKWEAR categories in which you'll find safety
and occupational GORE-TEX Footwear. (Clue: visit
the home page of www.goreworkwear.co.uk)
Send your answer along with your name, company
address and preferred shoe size to: The Editor, Health
& Safety Matters, 33-35 Cantelupe Road, East
Grinstead, West Sussex, RH19 3BE or email details to
gbisby@western-bp.co.uk by 31st July. More articles from W L Gore & Associates Ltd: | 
