Why you should protect your feet when working with heavy machinery or complex environments.
Safety boots are a vital component of your personal safety, especially when you are working with tools at industrial sites or even in your garage.
The foot is exposed to a number of threats in such environments, and injury can occur as a result of heavy objects falling directly on the feet, stepping on sharp objects, electric shocks, slips and falls, and mishandling of heavy-duty equipment.
Not to mention that continued stress and injury to feet can cause permanent damage and pain, sometimes resulting in the inability to continue working.
What are Safety Shoes?
Generally speaking, safety shoes are any shoes with a safety toe built inside it. Initially, this was achieved with materials made out of steel, but there’s a huge variety of safety shoes available for people who work with tools and heavy machinery.
These materials include Carbon Fiber, Composite material, and Aluminum Alloy. The shoes are tested by ASTM (American Standards for Testing and Materials) and similar regulatory bodies in other countries.
Expanding from just safety toes, safety shoes have evolved over the years with many more protective features. For instance, metatarsal guards protect the metatarsal bones, saving the foot from electric shocks and providing head and puncture resistance. Slip-resistant soles also reduce slipping hazards.
Why Safety Shoes Are Important
Here are the top reasons why it is important to wear safety shoes when working with tools and in the construction industry:
- It protects your feet when moving and lifting heavy objects by preventing potential crush injuries
- As part of the uniform, safety shoes have sufficient traction to prevent slips, trips, and falls. Well-fitted safety shoes are comfortable and maintain balance
- For jobs that require you to stand for long periods, safety shoes maintain posture, provide ample cushioning and comfort, and prevent muscle strains
- Prevention from electric shocks
- Protection against elements in logistics, construction, industrial and outdoor jobs
Podiatrist Newsletter provided by LRW Media. Images provided by Unsplash/ Scott Blake, Rob Pumphrey, Josh Olalde, and Magdalena.
