It’s vital that all members of staff on your site wear the
appropriate personal protective equipment that’s best suited to the job they’re
going to be doing. This is why you’ll need to carry out regular risk assessments
so you know what equipment you’ll need to invest in for your team.
Before you spend any money on safety boots, you’ll need to
take a look at the latest risk assessment that’s been done so you can see what
hazards you’ll need to protect your workers from. Doing this will save you
money in the long run since you won’t be purchasing unnecessary equipment.
You should consider points like whether there’s a risk of
falling objects, something penetrating the sole of the shoe, if there’s a need
for cut protection, if the workplace will be slippery, if chemicals are
present, if heel support is required, if the employee will be on their feet for
long periods of time and so on.
What you’ll notice when you come to buy your boots is that
there is a huge variety on the market – which can make purchasing decisions a little bit
tricky. There are standard boots you can buy that meet EU safety standards
and come with steel toe caps and midsoles, as well as being non-slip and
resistant to heat and acid, and so on.
These may not be the most appropriate for you, however, so
make sure you do further research to find the right kind of footwear that will
afford you the best protection for the job you’re doing. For example, it might
be that you need to have metal-free footwear so look for a composite style boot
that uses Kevlar and plastic instead of metal.
One of the most popular forms of safety footwear at the
moment are rigger boots, primarily because they’re comfortable, easy to clean
and have most of the same safety features that other boots have. If you’re
using cement at work, or other irritants, these would be a good option for your
workers. However, welders should avoid them because hot materials could fall
onto the shoes.
Those of you working outside in all weathers might find
safety wellingtons a better choice. These are perfect for standing in water and
can help protect feet against low temperatures, as well as providing chemical
resistance if needed.
It can be a minefield making sure that your members of staff
have the necessary protective gear in place before starting work but there’s no
denying how important it is to get it right. If you’d like a bit more
information or advice on what to spend your money on, get in touch with us here
at The Site Supply Company today to see how we can help.
We’re one of the UK’s leading online suppliers of personal
protection equipment, founded in 2002 and based in Stockport in Cheshire.