Page 23 - Occupational Health & Safety, September 2019

provide enough protection from the impact and compression as dictated by ASTM. In the end, it is more a matter of personal prefer- ence whether to go with a composite or a steel toe.
Quality
Other factors to consider when choosing quality safety boots is whether you would like leather or fabric. Good quality leather will be more durable, and some leathers are breathable as well. If you need a waterproof boot, look for a waterproof inner liner that will also wick moisture and allow your feet to breathe. This will help prevent your feet from getting too hot and sweaty, and moisture wicking properties will help keep your feet dry.
As a tip, a good quality wool blend sock will help keep your feet warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer by helping to keep foot temperature regulated and aids in wicking moisture. Cotton socks will just absorb foot sweat, keep your feet damp, and lead to the possibility of blisters. Cotton socks can also interfere with the moisture wicking properties and breathability of a boot. Feet that are too hot, sweaty, and uncomfortable can be a distraction from the job at hand.
Sole
Not to be left out, consider what type of sole you need for the job that you do. Slip resistance can certainly be a factor in a lot of jobs, look for a sole that mentions it offers slip resistance. Oil and fuel resistance may be needed in some environments, and there
are soles that are able to withstand exposure to these chemicals over time better than others; look for a sole that mentions it is oil and fuel resistant.
If you are you outdoors in cold weather, you may need to con- sider a softer sole that won’t harden in colder temperatures, which could certainly be a hazard for slip and falls. On the flip side, how- ever, maybe you have exposure to higher temperature surfaces and need a sole that is heat resistant. Also consider whether you need to have puncture protection in your soles, ASTM does offer puncture resistance (PR) as part of its optional testing, so be sure to look for that to be mentioned on the label.
As mentioned, there is a wide array of safety shoe models on the market to choose from. You want to protect your feet, not only from hazards in the workplace, but you want to protect the health of your feet as well. Invest in a good quality pair of boots that will take care of your feet and your feet will take care of you. A good pair of quality boots will last longer and treat you better in the long run. Do some research and get what’s best for you, and not just what looks eye-catching on the shelf.
Sandy Longarzo is Marketing Administration Manager at HAIX North America, a subsidiary of HAIX Schuhe, a manufacturer of cutting edge, high quality footwear for hardworking professionals. With over 13 years’ experience in the field of safety footwear for PPE, she has an in-depth knowledge of North American footwear technical standards and certifications, as well as footwear features and design.
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Highgrading Personal Safety: Simultaneously Preventing Slips/Trips/Falls and Soft-Tissue Injuries
Education for Safety Professionals
Strains/sprains and Slips/Trips/Falls are exceedingly common and costly injuries in almost every business sector. These “personal” injuries can account for 64.7 percent of all compensable injury costs (2018 Liberty Mutual Workplace Safety Index) – and that’s just in direct costs, not including lost productivity, pain/suffering, and much more. But these injuries often share common contributors. And the good news is they can be prevented with a strategic organizational approach, proven to result in up to 85 percent reductions in these injuries in a wide array of industries worldwide.
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September 26, 2019 • 1 p.m. Eastern • 12 noon Central • 10 a.m. Pacific
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Robert Pater is Founder/Managing Director of the MoveSMART® system for preventing soft-tissue injuries, slips/trips/falls and hand injuries, in place in companies. Robert is also an ongoing columnist for Occupational Health & Safety magazine. This is Robert’s 12th Advanced webinar for OH&S Academy.
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www.ohsonline.com SEPTEMBER 2019 | Occupational Health & Safety 19 Untitled-2 1 8/7/19 11:44 AM