By Jayden Mark
Recently, safety footwear and personal protective equipment have been credited with fewer accidents at the workplace. Thanks to technology, workers are now far more safer than they ever were on the job. While a significant percentage of employees have indeed begun appreciating all the benefits that come with a great pair of work boots, this does not make the buying choices any easier. The fact that the markets are flooded with all types of safety boots is enough to confuse even the most experienced safety expert. As a result, some buyers end up buying the absolutely wrong product or something that does not really fit the bill.

We have noticed that most people tend to make certain mistakes over and over again when looking for a decent pair of work boots. Instead of going home with a purchase that you will probably end up regretting, why not learn from the mistakes of the thousands of shoppers before you who got it wrong? Here are the five most common mistakes that people make when selecting their safety footwear.
Confusing Safety Boots with Work Boots
Before you go on about how you want safety boots for your job, you should know the difference between safety boots and work boots. Safety boots are specifically made to keep your feet protected from hazards at all angles. They may be lighter and less durable, but they sure as heck will be there when a ton of cement comes crashing on your toes.
Work boots, on the other hand, are made to bear all the harshness and brutal conditions that accompany an unforgiving work environment. Think of safety shoes as your very own personal bodyguards; they may not prove their worth every single day, but they will be there when it counts most. Work boots, on the other hand, need to prove their value every single minute of every single day on the job.
Failure to Read Safety Standard Rating
Typically, every single type of safety footwear comes with a specific safety rating that tells you all you need to know about the safety boot. From waterproof levels to precisely how much weight the toe can take before breaking apart, regulations have made this plain and straightforward for shoppers to enjoy.
However, many people make the mistake of just skimming over or not reading the safety ratings indicated on their footwear at all. You might just end up with the unfortunate luck of stepping on live current with a boot whose only strong point is waterproof uppers. If you want protection against punctures and piercing objects ensure you see an S1 rating.
Size Guessing
Don’t look at me like that; you know what you do! Just because a safety boot looks nice or is affordable, it suddenly fits your foot like Cinderella’s glass slipper. Nothing kills the purpose of a boot quicker than a wrong mismatch. If you get the size too small, your toes and heel will get the squeeze of a century and make it impossible to concentrate on work.
On the other hand, going for a bigger safety boot only leads to chapped, bruised and blistered feet at the end of the day. Ensure that you not only get the correct shoe size, but that you also match the width too. Amazon reviews help give you a better understanding of how particular sizes fit some people. The great news here is that if a shoe is either too big or too small, it can be returned to the store it came from. But that does not make things any less painful or frustrating.
Being Overly Budget Conscious
I know what you’re thinking, “This guy probably wants me to spend more money just so he can sell me some work boots.” But the truth of the matter is that most workers (myself included) shop with one eye firmly fixed on the price; if it’s too expensive, you don’t touch that sucker. Now, don’t get me wrong; there is absolutely nothing wrong with this.
However, always keep in mind that you get what you paid for. If you pick safety footwear just because it was cheap, your feet will never make you forget it every single day. Considering that your job involves plenty of hazards and long, tiresome hours, you should not compromise on your safety boots for anything. A decent pair of safety boots deserves to be treated with respect as a long-term investment in the comfort and well-being of your feet. In other words, be budget conscious; just don’t be cheap.
Right Safety Boots, Wrong Feet
If you have gone through a few pairs of safety boots and found that almost all of them give you painful symptoms or aching joints, it might be time to stop blaming the footwear. More often than not, wrong foot choices in the past or underlying issues lead to stubborn and choosy feet.
You could be suffering from plantar fasciitis, overpronation, supination or any other common foot problem. Picking any old boots from the shelf will only make things worse for you. Fortunately, there’s plenty of safety footwear made specifically for people with foot issues. Get the right match today, and all your woes will be over faster than you can say ASTM.
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