Page 57 - OHS, January/February 2021

■ Composite Fiberglass/Carbon Fiber are non-metallic fi- bers suspended in a plastic resin. The main benefit of these non- metallic toes is that they conduct heat and cold slower than metal and don’t have a magnetic signature. As such, workers in cold en- vironments or those concerned with magnetic signature—security, nuclear power plants, smelters and MRI machines—should choose this option.
■ Aluminum Alloy Toes are generally also non-magnetic and good for security. These are often the lightest weight of the three generally available safety toe options.
■ Steel Toes are also available, but you may ask why someone would choose a steel toe when more advanced, lighter compounds are available. The weight difference between steel and the alter- native is about 45 grams (or about 8 quarters) in weight amount. Dependent on the use case and wearer, this may or may not be a significant amount of weight.
Non-waterproof, Seam-Sealed versus Bagged
Waterproof footwear is nice to have, but if you perspire a lot, you may have dampness in your boots from your own sweat before any outside water even penetrates. Bagged products cost more than just seam-sealed ones, but tend to last longer and protect the feet more if you tend to sweat a lot. This choice is dependent upon the job at hand and your body’s comfort level in the conditions that you are working in.
Rubber and PVC
Rubber and PVC are high performance materials that have many applications in work boots. Due to their signature chemical nature, they respond differently to compounds found in the workplace. As a result, we recommend always testing products in the field to see how it performs not only with the contaminating chemicals, but also the ones that are the counter-agents. Neoprene refers to a family of synthetic rubber that can be used in both liquid and foamed executions. The liquid form is used in lines where boots are dipped in liquid neoprene and then vulcanized. This results in an upper section with no exposed seams. The neoprene can also be foamed with a blowing agent, resulting in a material used in wet-suits. The benefit of this foamed version is that it is naturally insulating and cushioning.
Proper Fit for Your Foot
As with any footwear, fit is the most important feature. No matter the quality of materials or excellence in design, a boot that does not match your foot’s particular shape will be unsatisfactory. Things to consider when looking for a boot are:
■ Do your toes have room to move?
■ Is there noticeable heel slippage?
■ Are the lining materials rough
■ Do the lining materials have heavy seams?
■ Does the insole have too much or too little structure?
Once you find a boot or shoe that fits properly, the next step
should be to look for the protective elements you need.
Value Over Time
It is important to look beyond the price tag and consider value or longevity. A less expensive boot may seem great at first, but how long will it last? Probably not very long. A more expensive boot
No matter the quality of materials or excellence in design, a boot that does not match your foot’s particular shape will be unsatisfactory.
where the manufacturer develops the boot with wearer protection in mind, likely takes into consideration where the high-wear, high- flex and high-stress areas of the boot exist, and how to mitigate damage through material and design choices. Higher-end manu- facturers take a multitude of variables into consideration to make sure the customer is getting true quality, comfort, protection and fit from what they spend.
On the Horizon: New Innovations
Over time, innovations evolve, allowing for even more protection and comfortable footwear for the jobsite. We are seeing a lot of new developments in outsole compounds and design. New information on how lugs perform on site gives insight into better and longer- lasting outsole design.
We are also seeing updates in climate control. Workers are be- coming more sophisticated in their understanding of how to pro- tect themselves from the cold. In the past, people have looked for temperature ratings, thinking that more is always best. Instead, we are seeing a trend to look for climate control in the boots rather than simple insulation. High insulation values that cause the wear- er to perspire create a worse condition than the cold itself. Human perspiration condenses and pulls even more heat out of the body, especially when the wearer goes from an active to inactive state.
Lastly, we are seeing innovation in ergonomic design. Footwear design and production often err on the side of simplified produc- tion, as the boots are mass produced versus custom made. The goal of the near future of boot making will be to deliver a product that has a customized fit with no break-in time.
Conclusion
Finding the right shoe or boot is about finding the right fit and protection for your specific duties while on the job. Based on these duties, some may need to focus more on slip resistance, while oth- ers will need to more heavily consider climate control and breath- ability. It is therefore important to evaluate the overall need, calling into account different environments to determine which features are most important.
Xavier Kawula has more than 20 years of footwear experience. He currently serves as Honeywell’s liaison for innovation, as well as product manager for Honeywell’s Work and Hunt offerings. Prior to working at Honeywell, he was a product manager at Timberland Boot Company.
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