Page 51 - Occupational Health & Safety, April 2018

1. Safety is #1 and should be the initial consideration when se- lecting the correct pair of protective footwear. There are many op- tions in the market, but you should choose a pair that will protect your feet from the hazards to which you may be exposed. A com- bination of safety toe caps, metatarsal guards (protection for the top of the foot), steel plate soles (puncture resistance), sole material (slip resistance, electrical insulation, flexibility and durometer of rubber), and overall materials used in shoe construction should be considered when making your selection.
2. Fit is very important. Did you know that the human foot actually grows during the day and shrinks while you sleep? While that’s not entirely true, everyone’s feel are actually larger after a hard day’s work, which means the end of the day is the best time to try on a potential new pair of shoes or boots. With so many options on the market, make sure that the padding and materials used are ade- quate for your work climate. Utilizing a shoe with moisture control technology for both warm and cold climates is a great option but will affect how your shoe fits. Making sure your new shoes fit well is key to preventing future discomfort.
3. Comfort is a must! The majority of quality brands of safety shoes and boots will not break in or stretch due to the types of ma- terials used to ensure proper support and foot protection. Make sure that when you’re test driving potential footwear, your feet are comfortable. Areas of comfort include appropriate space in the toe box, no pinching or cramping at the ball of the foot or toes area, and adequate support in the arch and heel. When feet are comfortable,
your knees hips and lower back are better aligned and supported. Be aware that no footwear can provide protection against all injuries. The primary methods of injury reduction are controlling hazards by elimination, engineering controls, and administrative controls. Relying on PPE alone is not acceptable. However, by mak- ing sure that you are selecting the correct shoe for your work en- vironment and personal needs, you will provide yourself the best personal protection for preventing foot-related injuries, should
other controls fail.
Additional information on safety footwear is available from
several online sites, including The American Orthopedic Food and Ankle Society1, Workingperson.me2, and OSHA3.
Adam J. Levesque (AJLevesque@memic.com), MBA, CSP, is a Safety Management Consultant with The MEMIC Group in Man- chester, N.H.
REFERENCES
1. http://www.aofas.org/footcaremd/how-to/footwear/Pages/10-Points-for- Purchasing-Protective-Footwear.aspx
2. http://workingperson.me/2011/10/24/effective-fit-and-selection-of- safety-footwear/
3. https://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_ table=INTERPRETATIONS&p_id=28979
4. http://kwc.org/mythbusters/2005/11/episode_42_steel_toe_amputatio.html
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