Page 26 - OHS, April 2020

FOOT PROTECTION
What you put on your feet is a part of your entire safety net while on the job...
Slip-Resistance
Slip resistance is a very important part of a safety shoe and some- thing that all workers should look for. However, a rating that can cause a lot of aggravation is slip rating. Many products will say they are slip resistant or call out their slip resistance as “fair,” “good” or use another subjective term.
If you are truly looking for footwear to be compliant to a Slip Hazard Assessment Plan, it is important to be able to review the manufacturer’s actual slip scores in the standardized tests. The cur- rent standard for slip-resistant testing is the SATRA, which is a whole shoe test. Older tests were designed to test the floor, not the shoe, and are considered obsolete.
Look for an SRC slip-rated outsole when looking for superi- or slip performance. If an outsole has a passing score on the Slip Resistance A test—like soapy water on quarry tile—it can be la- beled SRA. If an outsole has a passing score on the Slip Resistance B test—like glycerol on stainless steel—it can be labeled SRB. If it passes both tests, it can be labeled as SRC.
Safety Toe, Plate and Met Guards
While many people might regard composite or carbon fiber toes as superior to steel or alloy toes, just because the materials are newer does not mean that they have superior safety attributes. As with most things, they present the consumer with additional options for wear that depend on the environment in which they work. The test for toes is pass/fail so one cannot claim to be ultimately superior to another. While the tests for CSA and ASTM differ slightly, gener- ally any toe that passes one will pass the other. Following is a list of safety toe options and their benefits.
Composite Fiberglass/ Carbon Fiber are non-metallic fibers sus- pended in a plastic resin. The main benefit of these non-metallic toes is that they conduct heat and cold slower and do not have a magnetic signature. As such, workers in cold environments or those concerned with magnetic signature—security, nuclear power plants, smelters, and MRI machines—will choose this option.
Aluminum Alloy Toes are generally also non-magnetic and good for security and are the lightest weight of the three generally available toes.
Steel Toes are also available, but you may ask: why would some- one choose a steel toe when more advanced, lighter compounds are available? The weight difference between steel and the alternate is about 45 grams, or about eight quarters. This is significant in your hand, but in context of the footwear, the weight is worth consider- ing in a sneaker or a shoe, but less of a concern in a logger or a 10-welted pull on.
Similarly, there are options in plates, with different materials depending on occupational needs.
Non-Metallic plates are similar to composite toes. These are non-metallic fiber boards that provide protection without metal, so workers who are concerned magnetics should start here.
Steel Plates are ideal for waste management workers, and occu- pations with a lot of brads or needles would likely stick to a steel toe for protection. Over time thinner nails can slowly work their way
through the fiber boards, whereas steel is more secure. Additionally, metatarsal protection is always the special prov- ince of the safety manager. There are both external and internal
mets to choose from.
Internal Mets are generally more comfortable and less prone to
snag and cause a trip and fall hazard, however some see them as more prone to hold onto the damaging blow as they have more friction than a correctly designed External Met.
External Mets have the higher incidence of snag, trip and fall, but they have the trade-off of shedding the blow better.
Chemical and Environmental Protection
Protection from oil, acid and chemical resistance is critical in many occupational duties. Almost all rubber has synthetic (i.e. petroleum-based) rubber as part of the recipe for its manufacture. As such, all work rubber needs to be made with additional com- pounds that improve its performance in petroleum. Otherwise, the rubber will absorb oil and swell. Chemical and acid resistance are difficult to generalize as there are so many types, and often it’s de- termined that the problematic solvent was in the cleaning supplies instead of the initial product. Always seed and test products in the field to make sure they live up to expectations.
Cost over Time
Often when we are shopping for boots, we only focus on the initial sticker price, and don’t take into account such things as average wear time or time to failure. A $40 boot may seem like a value com- pared to a more expensive option, but if you go through four or five during the lifespan of one quality boot, the costs differences get closer, and the one quality boot hasn’t caused you any discomfort. Higher-end manufacturers take a lot of things into consideration to make sure you are getting true quality from what you spend. Manufacturers look at where the high-wear, high-flex and high- stress areas of the boot exist, and how to mitigate damage through material and design changes.
Line Structure/Ease of Assortment
When you begin a relationship with a brand, you are creating ac- cess not only to the one or two products that you are purchasing but also to the entire line. If the boot you are buying is the only thing you would ever buy from that company, it will be a one-off with little room to create economies of scale. Some companies re- ally just offer one boot, limiting the scope and scale of business.
Final Thoughts
What you put on your feet is a part of your entire safety net while on the job, so be sure to invest in quality, fit, comfort and the protective features you and your team need while on the job. As part of any occupational health and safety program, be sure that footwear is a top consideration to ensure workers are set up for success.
Xavier Kawula has 20+ years footwear experience. He has been Product Manager for Timberland Boot Company, Timberland Earthkeepers, Timberland PRO and currently serves as Honeywell’s liaison for innovation as well as manager for Honeywell’s Work and Hunt offerings.
22 Occupational Health & Safety | APRIL 2020
www.ohsonline.com