Millions of people spend all day at work on their feet, meaning that comfortable and safe footwear such as safety boots is of vital importance. Even for those who do not work in particularly dangerous environments, long periods of time standing and walking can cause medical conditions and serious injuries.
Employers have a duty to ensure workers have a safe working environment and are provided with adequate safety gear including safety boots. There are a number of benefits to safety boots for employers, and the following are some of the main ones.
Injury prevention
Protecting employees from injury is one of the main benefits of safety boots. There are many potential causes of injury depending on the particular workplace, including feet being crushed by heavy items falling on them or workers stepping on sharp objects that are able to easily penetrate normal footwear.
A quality pair of safety boots can reduce the risks of all those things and even guard against the possibility of electric shock.
Posture improvement
The right pair of quality safety boots will not only guard against injury but also help to make a big difference to posture. Well-fitting safety boots that support and cushion the arch of the feet means that they and your ankles are completely supported, ensuring the correct alignment of legs and thus improving overall posture.
Good posture also helps to alleviate and prevent back problems and pain.
Comfort enhancement
Comfort is vitally important, particularly for those workers who will spend most of the week in the same pair of shoes, but comfort is more than just not feeling uncomfortable. Footwear that fits correctly can also prevent employees from becoming fatigued, allowing them to be more efficient at their job.
Fall prevention
One of the most common accidents that result from the wrong footwear being worn in the workplace is falls, slips or trips. Wearing safety boots in the workplace is a very simple way to prevent this from happening given that most safety footwear comes with anti-slip soles.
Weather preparedness
Appropriate safety boots will be essential for any staff members that have to work outside. The right pair of safety boots allow staff members to work in any type of weather, whether it be freezing cold or in heavy rain. It can be dangerous to wear inappropriate footwear in certain temperatures, with exposure to cold for long periods of time even risking frostbite.
There are also specific options for protection against particular workplace dangers such as the likes of electrostatic or explosive discharge, exposure to corrosive liquids, molten metal and welding spray as well as ankle support for working on uneven ground.
Other considerations
There are a few other considerations that should be taken into account prior to the purchase of safety boots. Safety boots should not pinch the feet or be either too wide or too narrow, potential feet swelling needs to be taken into consideration and toe caps should not be felt against the toes.
