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Protecting Footwear For Workers ~ Conformance And Safety
by Becky Zado
http://www.furlafootwear.com
Have you ever broken a toe? It~s a really painful
experience that incapacitates you, makes you take off some
time from work, and forces you to think about your footwear.
Many on the job injuries are due to wearing the wrong safety
shoe. Safety shoes must conform to certain standards.
These standards are frequently updated. In February 2005,
new international standards for protective footwear were
recently announced, according to the American Apparel &
Footwear Association (AAFA). AAFA members provide input
into these ASTM standards. ASTM International is
headquartered in Pennsylvania and is a voluntary
organization that establishes technical standards for
product, material and services. Two of these standards ~
F2412-05 ~Standard Test Methods for Foot Protection~ and
F2413-05 ~Standard Requirements for Protective Footwear~ ~
cover the testing and construction of safety footwear.
How do these standards help workers and employers?
Standards address the protection of toes from injury,
protection from other sources such as electrical shock, and
the need for special provisions such as for those who work
with chainsaws. Footwear manufacturers closely follow these
standards and must re-examine current inventories to see if
their stock complies with new standards. If those safety
shoes in stock meet the newest standards, the manufacturer
can re-label that shoe with a conformance sticker.
Employers that want to know if it~s conforming to state
regulations about protective footwear for workers can
contact its respective state safety agency.
In general, workers may discount the value of wearing
safety shoes. However, even with the current emphasis
on safety in the workplace and requirements for safety
footwear, there are still some 180,000 workplace related
injuries to feet and toes reported every year. The number
of unreported injuries, of course, is unknown. These
injuries result in about $1 billion in worker~s
compensation claims. Safety shoes don~t just protect toes
from injury; they also have non-skid bottom surfaces that
protect workers from slipping. The previous statistics
don~t include the costs associated with injuries due to
falls caused by slipping.
An employer must analyze the work environment before
deciding what kind of safety footwear is required to
protect workers. In fact, in a large manufacturing
organization, different classifications of workers may
need unique types of safety footwear. One industry that
may not be aware of the need for safety footwear that
protects against slipping is the food service industry.
Some of the workplace factors to consider when selecting
safety shoes are:
- Amount of weight that can possibly fall on the feet.
- Amount of weight on wheels that could roll over the feet.
- Is there a danger of slipping?
- Is there a hazard for items, such as nails, to penetrate
the bottom of the foot?
- Is there danger of static electricity discharge or
electrical exposure?
- Will the employee possibly be standing in a liquid and,
if so, what?
A consultation with a safety specialist can help the
employer select the best footwear for its employees~ duties.
An example of one safety specialist company is Footwear
Specialties International in Portland, Oregon. This company
provides consultation and supplies a wide variety of safety
footwear. To learn more or to contact this company, go
online to http://www.footwearspecialties.com.
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