Page 52 - Occupational Health & Safety, April 2017

FOOT PROTECTION
sturdy materials that either repel water or do not absorb water. You may have a favorite pair of shoes that you’ve worn for ages. Although these well-loved shoes may be comfortable, it’s important to ensure your shoes do not have rips, holes, fasten properly, and that the soles have good traction. If you’re someone who spends all day standing on a hard surface, it’s vital that you properly support
and cushion your feet.
All of the small muscles in your feet act as full-body support,
including your legs, knees, and back. Without proper foot support and cushioning you can endure tremendous strain on your muscles; the proper footwear and insoles can help to alleviate this strain.
In addition, you can use 100 percent dual layer memory foam insoles to alleviate pain and fatigue. Utilizing insoles in your shoes also prolongs the life of protective footwear. Many times, your shoe can keep going while your insole has lost its ability to properly sup- port you. As well, machine-washable insoles keep your shoes smell- ing as fresh as possible while offering you the comfort you need.
Stepping Out with Safety
Having adequate or proper foot protection means more than wear- ing the right footwear; it means being more aware and protecting you and your employees from dangerous hazards. Making sure that your team is wearing properly fitted footwear that helps them avoid slips, trips, and falls means that you are creating a workplace cul- ture centered around safety.
Utilizing ergonomics in the workplace by providing employees with better foot support will prevent musculoskeletal diseases and injuries. Giving workers the foot support they deserve not only in- creases productivity and healthfulness, but also it enhances health and wellness initiative programs and their success.
The cost of workplace injuries is greater than its dollar amount—it means a depreciation in morale and positive work- place relationships. Workplace injuries can have deep ripple effects within a company. In fact, the CDC and BLS have shown that one in six of all lost-time work injuries results from slips, trips, and falls.
Fortunately, there are steps you can take to ensure a safer work- place. Evaluating your workplace and ensuring every employee has proper and supportive, comfortable footwear can prevent most slips, trips, and falls and create a safer working environment.
Dr. Kevan Orvitz is the president and founder of MEGAComfort and is a Podiatrist with more than 20 years of experience studying all aspects of biomechanics. MEGAComfort Anti-Fatigue insoles are clinically proven to reduce muscle fatigue and pain, while si- multaneously increasing worker comfort. www.megacomfort.com
REFERENCES
1. http://www.arbill.com/arbill-safety-blog/bid/203028/Painful-Statistics- on-Slips-Trips-and-Falls
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www.megacomfort.com
Add COMFORT, Increase Safety, Fight Fatigue
• Original Patented DUAL LAYER 100% Memory Foam Technology • Ergonomically Designed by a Podiatrist
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ANTI-FATIGUE MATTING IN YOUR BOOTS
Occupational Health & Safety | APRIL 2017
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