If you work in logistics, construction, transportation, or any other field where you are working under dangerous circumstances, you are probably wondering:
Should I wear safety shoes for my job? 🤔
This is a question that many workers ask themselves, and to answer this question, it is necessary to know in which cases you should use safety shoes to protect yourself in your work environment.
Therefore, in this article, you will learn When the use of safety footwear is necessary for different types of occupations, and also, we will provide you with information about it so that you can decide whether to use safety shoes or not for your job.
In which cases is the use of safety footwear mandatory?
The use of safety shoes is mandatory in all cases where there is a risk of injury to the feet by falling objects, stepping on sharp objects, contact with corrosive substances, burns, electric shocks or impacts.
Safety shoes must comply with current technical standards and be appropriate to the type of activity and the work environment.
In addition, employers have the responsibility to provide appropriate safety shoes to each employee, and the worker has the obligation to use them correctly and keep them in good condition.
In which occupations should safety shoes be used?
That said, there are some work sectors where the use of safety shoes is necessary and mandatory.
Some of these works are as follows:
- The construction: Workers in this sector are exposed to impacts, falls, sharp objects, abrasive materials and chemical substances.
- The metallurgical industry: In the metal industry, molten metals, welding, sparks and heavy machinery are handled. Therefore, it is necessary to have safety footwear.
- Agriculture: In this sector, work is carried out in the fields, with animals, agricultural machinery and phytosanitary products, where it is necessary to avoid slipping and have waterproof materials.
- Hospitality: Workers in this sector serve the public, prepare food and drinks, and clean facilities. For this reason, they must have a non-slip sole to avoid falls due to spills or wet surfaces, as well as a reinforced toe cap to protect against impacts.
- Logistics: Workers in the logistics sector usually handle loads, objects, transfers, among other actions. Therefore, it is necessary for them to be able to protect themselves with a certain type of safety footwear.
- Cargo transportation: People who work in the transport sector, mainly in freight transport, are often exposed to the risk of being run over by vehicles, falling loads, or exposure to noise or vibrations.
Typically, each of the safety shoes intended for workers in these occupations usually have different characteristics from each other, and are aimed at protecting the worker according to the dangers to which they are exposed.
What standards must safety shoes have?
Safety shoes must comply with a series of standards and characteristics that guarantee their quality and effectiveness.Some of these norms or standards are:
- UNE-EN ISO 20345:2012 standard: This standard establishes the basic and additional requirements for safety footwear with a toe cap resistant to an impact of 200 joules and a compression of 15 kN.
- UNE-EN ISO 20346:2014 standard: This standard, like the previous one, defines the basic and additional requirements for protective footwear, with the difference of having a toe cap resistant to an impact of 100 joules and a compression of 10 kN.
- UNE-EN ISO 20347:2012 standard: This regulation then defines the basic requirements for safety footwear without a toe cap, i.e. for low-risk work.
- CE marking: This marking indicates whether the footwear complies with European legislation on safety and health at work.
- Alphanumeric code: Finally, shoes must have a code that identifies the specific characteristics of the footwear according to the type of sole, the level of protection, slip resistance and other properties.
In addition, the material, shape, design and colour of the footwear must be adapted to the conditions of the workplace and the preferences of the user.
Features of safety shoes
Safety shoes are classified according to the level of protection they offer, from the most basic (SB) to the most complete (S3).
Each level has minimum requirements that shoes must meet, such as the type of toe cap, water resistance or the presence of additional elements such as anti-perforation insoles or ankle supports.
If you want to know more about this topic, I recommend reading our post about the types of safety shoes.
Risks that safety shoes should avoid
Some of the risks that safety shoes should avoid are:
- The impact or fall of heavy objects on the toes or the instep of the foot.
- Piercing or cutting of the sole of the foot by sharp or cutting objects, such as nails, glass, metal or splinters.
- Contact with corrosive, flammable or toxic chemicals, such as acids, bases, solvents or hydrocarbons.
- Slipping or losing balance on slippery, uneven or inclined surfaces.
- Exposure to extreme temperatures, whether high or low, that can cause burns or frostbite to the feet.
- Electrocution or electric shock from contact with electrical cables or equipment.
It is important to know the risks you will be exposed to in your work area and what you should avoid, in order to choose the most appropriate model for each situation.
Where can I buy safety shoes for my job? 🛍️
As you can see, there are different types of safety shoes that should be used in specific situations, each with different characteristics.
So, right now, you might be wondering: Where can I buy a pair of safety shoes for my job?
Well, in Mr. ZapasWe specialize in the sale and distribution of different models of safety shoes, and where you can visit our footwear catalog to explore and choose the ideal pair of shoes for you.
So, We invite you to visit our online store and you will know all the safety shoes that we have to offer you, and in this way, you can choose the safety footwear that best suits what you need for your occupation! 👟