Page 53 - OHS, January/February 2021

Puncture risks. Is there anything com- monly found in the work environment, such as scrap metal, pallet nails or glass, that might puncture footwear and cause injury?
Take Time To Get Fitted
The best boots on the market will only perform optimally if they fit properly, so it’s crucial your employees take the time to find their correct size. Look for a foot- wear company with certified fit specialists to help employees find the right fit. These experts have the knowledge, skill and ex- perience to understand how to fit for many different foot shapes and sizes. They take many factors into consideration, including length, width and arch.
A combination of traditional methods as well as new technological tools, like digital scans, analyze the unique size, shape, arch height and pressure points on each foot to reveal indispensable data for getting a cus- tomized fit. It’s also important to consider gender-specific footwear design because women and men’s feet are shaped differ- ently. Go with a footwear manufacturer that uses gender-specific lasts to create purpose- built footwear—this will ensure the best fit possible. When workers walk away with the correct boot size, it increases the likelihood of all-day comfort and decreases the chance of workplace injuries, keeping your employ- ees safe and protected on the job.
Next-Generation Materials
After the worker is properly fitted, it’s time for the best part—picking out the work boot purpose-built for the specific job. Due to innovative materials across all types of footwear, people are now wearing lighter shoes in their free time. As a result, today’s workers now expect their work boots to be lightweight and not bulky while still meet- ing safety standards and featuring the latest performance attributes. Advancements in materials have allowed certain manufactur- ers to bring lightweight footwear options that perform under the toughest conditions to market, allowing for comfort on and off the jobsite.
Different seasons also require different types of materials to keep feet cool, warm or dry depending on the weather. When temperatures are hot, workers should wear boots made out of breathable mate- rials that include cooling textiles. Freez- ing temperatures require insulation, so go with work boots that use traditional lofted
The best boots on the market will only perform
optimally if they fit properly, so it’s crucial your employees take the time to find their correct size.
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JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2021 | Occupational Health & Safety 49
insulation, or consider footwear made with new warming materials using alu- minum technology. This innovative pa- per-thin technology actually reflects and retains body heat to surround and keep your feet warm. To ensure feet stay dry in wet conditions, opt for a footwear com- pany that uses a three-layer waterproofing system to help move moisture away from the foot, provides additional cushioning and utilizes a waterproof bootie to act as a
barrier, ensuring a complete system.
It’s also important to remember that a work boot doesn’t need to always look like a traditional work boot. There are now styl- ish options that look like everyday shoes but meet jobsite safety standards. They can also include features like best-in-class slip resistance, electrical hazard protection and safety toe options. Plus, these alternative options allow for an easy transition from
work to everyday activities.