How to Select the Best Safety Shoes
With Australians working longer hours than ever before, adequate clothing and safety shoes are required to protect the body from long-term harm. This is especially important for construction workers and blue-collar workers who are on their feet all day and may be exposed to the sun.
Choosing the proper safety shoes is just as important as choosing the proper work attire, as is ensuring that you slip-slop-slap to protect your skin from UV damage.
The proper safety shoes should not only protect the worker from industrial hazards such as tripping and electrocution, but they should also provide optimum comfort and support for the feet and body.
In contrast to generic footwear, proper safety shoes should feel comfortable the moment you put it on and should not require “breaking in” before being comfortable. The wrong work boots can put extra strain on joints and bones, leading to painful conditions including plantar fasciitis, knee problems, and shin splints.
Even with thorough teaching regarding shoe style, quality, and size, many people have trouble purchasing footwear that is right for their unique foot needs. As a result, it’s critical to take the time to select appropriate footwear designed to prevent occupational hazards.
Elastic, lace-up, or zipper closure? We’ll go through the numerous varieties of safety shoes on the market and help you decide which one is right for you.
Zip Sided Work Boots
Zip-side boots combine the best of both worlds by providing enough ankle support while being easy to put on and take off. Furthermore, if a user has hand injuries, side zippers are significantly more comfortable to use than traditional lacing techniques.
Another fantastic and time-saving alternative is to match a lace-up with a zip-side work boot. The laces provide a secure fit around the foot and ankle and enable a personalised fit. Once the laces have been changed to the user’s specifications, the wearer no longer has to fiddle with the laces and can simply zip the shoes on and off.
Elastic Sided Boots
These boots are well-liked since they are simple to put on and take off. This type of safety shoe is great for those with wider feet since it is light, comfortable, and breathable, with outstanding grip and balance underfoot.
Improved ankle articulation is another key benefit of this design. This type of boot is particularly beneficial for drivers with active feet since it restricts ankle movement less and can aid in accurate and precise machine operation.
Lace Up Work Boots
Lace-up boots provide extra ankle support since they can be adjusted for a specific fit and hold the ankle firmly in place. Because of their ability to adjust the fit and relax or tighten as needed, they are ideal for both broad and narrow feet.
Over-the-ankle lace-up boots can protect users from a range of hazards, including burns, cuts, and abrasions, and the bellows tongue on the majority of lace-up boots lowers the probability of objects entering the boot.
Lace-up boots have the added benefit of allowing wearers to adjust the fit of the boot to their comfort levels. Laces must be well tied at all times to minimise tripping risks.
Overview
Finally, safety shoes must satisfy three requirements: protection, functionality, and comfort. When it meets these criteria, the risk of injury to the wearer is considerably minimised.
Boots with zips, lace-ups, or elastic sides may all do the job, but they must be carefully picked to meet certain scenarios and expectations.
The boots should fit snugly but not so tightly that the user is uncomfortable. However, there should be no significant movement of the foot in the boot, as this suggests that the wearer is not receiving appropriate support.