SAFETY FOOTWEAR BUYERS GUIDE

Your guide to selecting and buying the correct safety footwear for your requirements.

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Before selecting safety footwear you should refer to a recent existing risk assessment for the workplace you are buying for, or carry one out if one does not already exist. This will give you a clear understanding of the hazards you wish to protect against - allowing you to select the most appropriate PPE for your working environment. PPE, including safety footwear, should always be used as a 'a last resort' after all other reasonable or practical measures have been taken to manage the risk. Performing a risk assessment is a good way to identify new or missed hazards and to put measurements in place to control them. In situations where it is not possible or practical to manage risks at the source, PPE will be used as a main line of defence against the hazard, so it is crucial that your PPE meets legal standards and is used correctly by all staff affected by the risk. PPE should be periodically reviewed as new, improved styles may have become available and protective kit should be regularly checked for faults and properly maintained - staff should be encouraged to report faults or problems with their PPE. 

When performing a risk assessment for safety footwear, some points you may want to consider are:

The Safety Footwear section on our website breaks down our range into several categories:

Standard Safety Boots.

These are all-round safety boots which meet EU safety standards and incorporate various safety features such as steel toe caps, steel midsoles, non-slip, or heat and acid resisitant, soles, shock absorber heels etc. This range is suitable for many applications and generally suitable for those working in the construction industry.

Composite and Metal Free Safety Footwear.

Composite safety boots utilise plastic and a kevlar fabric, in place of metal, at the toe cap and mid-sole sections, meaning they are idea for metal free environments as well as having additional benefits. Composite toe caps are equal in strength to steel and will return to their original shape if crushed, once the crushing object is removed, making it easier to remove the foot from the boot. Kevlar fabric mid-sole protection provides cover to 100% of the sole, whereas steel plates cannot cover right up to the edge of the foot - leaving about 20% exposed. Metal free and composite boots are also much lighter, improving comfort for the wearer. It is worth noting that metal-free boots will contain absolutely no metal, whereas composite boots may contain metal fastenings or embellishments.

Safety Shoes and Trainers.

A lighter and smarter safety shoe is ideal for those working in shops, warehouses, healthcare and for office workers who occassionally need to go to higher risk areas. Safety trainers are a more casual style for those who prefer not to wear standard safety boots. The relaxed and comfortable style of safety trainers make them ideal for tradesmen, delivery drivers and are also a popular choice for school and college activities as fashion conscious students are more willing to wear them.

Rigger Boots.

Rigger Boots have seen an increase in popularity in recent years, most likely because they provide many of the features of a standard safety boot with the style and ease of use of a wellington. They are easy to clean and provide a comfortable fit. They are particularly useful in environments where cement and other irritants are present; cement dust can get into safety boots and shoes and cause cement burn. The higher length of rigger boots offers greater protection against this. They are not recommended for welders or those working in a foundry where hot materials may drop into the top of the boot. Different construction sites have their own rules about whether lace-up safety boots or rigger boots are to be used and these rules should be observed by everyone working onsite.

Special Hazard Safety Boots.

The products in this category offer protection against a wider range of 'specialist' hazards than standard safety boots. Boots providing metatarsal protection have a steel plate over the top of the boot to protect the foot from items dropped from above. There is also footwear which offers protection against extremes of temperature for those working in cold store/ freezer environments, as well as high temperature and flame retardant boots. Anti static boots are also included here for those working in the manufacture and assembly of electronic components. Options for forestry workers and chainsaw operators are also available in this section.

Safety Wellingtons.

Wellingtons are idea for those working outside or in wet conditions and will outperform the highest spec leather boots when standing in water. Safety wellingtons feature toe cap and midsole protection and are easy to clean and put on/ remove. We stock thermal wellingtons that offer protection against low temperatures and provide an alternative to lace-up boots for cold store workers. Wellies offering chemical resistance are also available in this section.

Ladies Safety Footwear.

On this page you will find a selection of ladies safety footwear that offers a narrower fit and more feminine style than the other products we have listed. All of the boots in this section offer toe cap and midsole protection, along with various other features such as anti-slip, anti-static soles and shock absorber heels. Call us to discuss your specific requirements.

The basic standard for professional use Safety Footwear is EN345. As a basic requirement safety footwear must have a 200 joule toe cap. Other properties that may be included are; penetration resistance (midsole protection), conductive, anti-static, insulated against heat or cold, energy absorbing, outsole resistant to hot contact, water resistant.

Buying Safety Footwear by Use.

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