Foot injuries among people who work in labour orientated jobs is rife, with injuries costing companies expenses with time off, medical bills and even compensation! Some injuries or poorly fitting footwear (see Shoe Size Conversions) can result in debilitating and degenerative conditions of the foot which can put a person out of manual work for life and seriously jeopardise their quality of life! For this reason strict policies have been implemented which requires all staff working in areas of construction or possible risk to wear appropriate protective clothing and footwear. Thanks to these new guidelines, foot injury has been reduced by 60% in the construction industry!

However we also need to consider injuries which have been caused not through accidents, but through the wear and tear endured through poorly fitting footwear and long periods of standing. Common complaints include blisters, flat feet, dropped arches and aches and pains which can all take their toll and lead to under productive staff or staff not attending work at all!

Many accidents in the workplace caused by inappropriate footwear are actually due to ‘slips’ or ‘trips’ which actually account for the largest proportion of work-related injuries across all industrial sectors! Just think of how all these sick days and compensation claims can be reduced if only the footwear had had more suitable grips! Other common injuries caused by inappropriate footwear include;

• Cuts, scrapes and punctures to the soles of the feet caused through poor shoe soles when working with nails, wire, staples and scrap metal.
• Crushed toes and feet, broken bones and worse still amputations. These injuries can be very common in certain types of manual labour where appropriate footwear is not used. Logging, construction, oil rig operations and fishing are all areas for concern in terms of decent footwear.
• In workplaces where chemical and molten metal is prone to splashing, and where other flammable and explosive materials are used such as mining and in the manufacture of heavy metals or the production of chemicals, burns to the feet are prevalent without the use of proper footwear.
• In areas where chain saws, rotary mowers and other like machinery is used without the recommended footwear you can expect to see injuries such as cuts, lacerations and severed toes.
• Inadequate footwear can lead to electric shocks caused by static electricity or direct contact with the source which is a common injury or even fatality among construction workers and electricians.
• The most widespread injury of them all however has to be the sprain, commonly caused by trips, falls and slips in the workplace. Almost as frequent however are fractures and broken bones, all of which can occur anywhere where the floor is slippery, or where it has not been kept clear and free from clutter or has been lit badly.

There is no excuse for the lack of protective footwear as an employer. It is your duty to ensure that all your staff are safe and that their needs are catered to. With the diverse range of safety footwear and protective boots available today, you can be sure there is a solution which will provide guaranteed protection in the workplace and that will adhere to European safety standards. Before purchasing your footwear however, identify the potential hazards in the work place so that you can be sure that you’re purchasing the most suitable option.

As an employer, protective work wear and clothing is your responsibility. Failure to provide the correct protective clothing & equipment can result in injury or even death and could most definitely result is the shut-down of your business and legal action being taken against you.

The management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations (MHSW) 1999 states that employers are to identify and assess the risks to health and safety in the workplace. All risks must then be minimised as far as possible. Where an activity requires some risk, the risk should be minimised in a number of ways, one of which is to wear the appropriate personal protective equipment.

If there is a risk to an employee’s health and safety that cannot be controlled in other ways or means, then protective equipment must be supplied by the employer, who should also be seen to enforce the use of the protective equipment and clothing when carrying out the activity in hand.

Personal protective Equipment (PPE) is equipment including clothing that is intended to be worn or used by a person at work and that protects against risks to their health or safety. This could include protective helmets, gloves, eye protection, safety harnesses, high-visibility clothing and many others.

Hearing protection along with respiratory protection equipment are however not covered by these regulations. The former is covered by the Noise at Work Regulations.

At Office 365 you’ll find the following;

• Goggles - These are essential when working around hazards that include chemical or metal splash, dust, gas and vapour and radiation. PPE could include goggles, visors, safety spectacles and face masks
• Other Including Helmets and Face Masks - Helmets are for hazards that include impact from falling or flying objects, risk of head bumping and even hair entanglements. PPE could include a range of helmets and bump caps. Face masks are for hazards that include dust, vapour, gas or oxygen deficient environments.PPE could include partial or full face masks.
• Coats - Coats such as these high visibility coats are for hazards that could include road or pedestrian accidents. They allow the wearer to be visible is low light environments. PPE could include high visibility clothing.
• Gloves - Gloves are for hazards that could include abrasion, cuts and punctures, electric shock, skin infection and contamination. PPE could include protective gloves.
• Shoes and Boots - These are for hazards that could include wet or damp conditions, falling objects, slipping and abrasion. PPE could include safety boots and shoes.