How important is the use of occupational safety footwear?

Maybe you didn't know it yet but, the security shoes part of the Individual protection equipment that workers are required to wear at their job. Its use is essential to comply with the occupational health regulations, since they are specially designed to respond to the demands of each type of work. Do you know the impact it has on health the use of good footwear at work ?.

In this article we are going to see some of the issues related to this type of footwear.

1. Occupational health regulations on safety footwear

When is it mandatory to wear safety boots?

In any work that is carried out and that may lead to a risk, either by blows, slides, cuts, or crushing. The worker can not be denied to use safety footwear since if the risk assessment assesses the possibility of injury, it would make their use mandatory in every rule.

2. Application of Kinesiology (study of movement)

La Kinesiology is the study of human movement and biomechanics that analyzes the behavior of physiological structures when they are subjected to static or dynamic efforts

La quality of safety footwear is essential not only because it offers immediate protection, but also because in the short, medium and long term it also guarantees a use that protects the general psychophysical health of workers at 360º. The consequences in the medium and long term are the most difficult to intuit but, if they are paid attention, they can guide the choice of work footwear to obtain effective solutions designed in accordance with the principles that regulate the delicate balance of the locomotor system.

How does the shoe have to be to be comfortable?

When you are about to choose a safety shoe, you have to deal with choosing a comfortable shoe for prevent your feet from hurting, for that we must take into account these points:

- Make it light:

The less the weight of the shoe, the less the legs will tire and therefore the more comfortable they will be. It is advisable to choose a shoe that does not have steel on the toe.

- Make it flexible:

One of the most important characteristics of a comfortable shoe. Since if the shoe is too rigid, it will not allow you to flex your foot well and it will not be counterproductive.

- Wide last:

The idea is that it is wide enough so that it does not press on your foot as it could cause chafing and discomfort. 

There are other types of secondary aspects such as breathability and impermeability or the type of closure that it has but that are not essential for its performance. Depending on the type of shoe, your body will react more or less favorably with respect to our postural balance. Do not doubt try on your shoes before buying them and walk with them to check the sensations they transmit to your body.

What are safety boots or footwear for and what function do they play?

Its main function is protect the worker of the dangers of different work activities and thus avoid accidents. Professional safety footwear guarantees the integrity of the feet and legs against ligamentous injuries, fractures and even diseases, in addition to correcting posture. Next we will see the risks to which we are exposed and that these footwear are capable of protecting us

Safety boots protect us from:

Characteristics of a good safety footwear:

Resistant and lightweight and flexible anti-perforation sole.

Protective toecap made of steel, aluminum or composite.

Antistatic sole to reduce electrical risks

Non-slip sole for more safety in the tread

Main advantages and benefits of safety footwear

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Short term

Medium term

Long-term