Take a moment and think about what the ideal pair of work boots looks like. While most of you picture a rugged, heavy-duty boot with a steel toe and all the latest features, very few actually consider whether their foot wear meets the set safety standards and regulations. There’s no doubt about just how important it is for both employers and workers to insist on apparel that meets industry safety standards.
With recent changes to legislation, all PPE (personal protective equipment) such as work boots and protective footwear are provided by the employer at zero cost to the worker. This means that whether you are on a construction site, garage or any other environment with hazards, you need to have a reliable pair of work boots. Other working conditions and dangers around the workplace that could necessitate wearing safety boots include:
Now, if your work boots are rated as resistant to any of the above elements, it should do its part diligently without fail. While the safety standards are critical safeguards that should never be overlooked, the sad truth is that not all footwear meets these standards and requirements. Sometimes, the safety standards set might not be a prerequisite for your particular work environment. This is why it is of the utmost importance to review your job’s safety standards and techniques before purchasing your own boots. Once you match your job with an ideal pair of safety boots, work becomes so much easier. Other reasons for selecting the highest safety standards include:
Better Materials and Components
We’ve all heard some of the horror stories that come with wearing subpar safety boots and shoes that have not been certified. While unconfirmed, some workers reported that particular steel toe boots made accidents much worse. For example, one guy said that while working, a heavy crate fell on his foot and compressed the steel toe cap so hard that it sliced his toe off. This was a case of footwear that was manufactured outside federal safety standards.
Work boots constructed under state and federal guidelines have actually been reported as limb savers that do their job in the event of an injury. If you prefer much fewer and minor injuries in the workplace, it’s all about how safe and sturdy the individual components are. It is these robust single elements that come together in approved safety boots to give you one seamlessly built work boot. But the parts alone are not enough; the process is also another solid reason to go for boots that meet safety standards.
Thorough Development Process
The guys at the top are definitely strict when it comes to the welfare of workers and the country’s hard working citizens. This is why every manufacturer who wishes to create boots worthy of the nation’s safety standards must go above and beyond the call of duty. For any work boot to meet safety regulations and standards, the manufacturer needs to come up with a solid process that checks all the right boxes.
This includes conducting an entire array of tests and environments meant to examine the integrity of the work boot. From impact, to compression, heat to cold, water to air; the safety standards communicate all that is necessary to assure users of exactly what is promised. If practice makes perfect, then testing does indeed yield flawlessness.
Consistency and Confidence
If a pair of safety rated work boots says that your toes will be safe from compressing forces of up to 1000 Kgs, you can rest assured that that is exactly what it means. This is because of all the tests carried out in the previous process. Companies that don’t bother with safety standards are more likely to skip out on plenty of testing and incorporate lower quality materials to save up on a few bucks. I don’t know about you, but I wouldn’t put my faith in a cheap boot that guaranteed up to 2 tons of compression resistance but had no prior tests to back it up. Buying work boots that meet state and federal safety standards not only guarantees you of consistency through all aspects, but also gives you the confidence you need to act without second guessing your movements.
Bottom Line
While majority of workplace accidents result from not wearing personal protective equipment, that number is slowly getting outnumbered by injuries from defective and unrated footwear. From crushed toes to punctures on the soles, electric shocks to lacerations, all these can be avoided by wearing shoes that meet or exceed all the safety standards set forth. There’s no point saving up your money only to end up losing a toe or your entire foot. Protect yourself today.
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