CascadesWaterproof Heavy Ankle Boot at CIS Safety
Our feet are exposed to many dangers at work and, like every other danger, the risk can be avoided or removed if employers take simple straightforward steps to protect their workers.
Our footwear is out in front, in support. From safety wellingtons to ankle boots, office footwear to kitchen shoes, we offer a huge range of footwear to help improve comfort and safety in the workplace.
Here are some tips to help you choose the right footwear and also, importantly, to help prevent accidents and injuries.
1 EMPLOYERS ARE LEGALLY BOUND TO MAKE SURE FLOORS ARE SAFE IN THE FIRST PLACE
Regardless of footwear provision, under the The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, employers need to make sure that floors and the general workplace are safe. This raises the key point that often the problem is not just with the footwear but the actual surface. Employers should make sure that floors are kept clean and dry and, where that is not possible, special flooring may need to be installed.
2. 80% OF ALL FOOTWEAR INJURIES ARE CAUSED BY AN OBJECT WEIGHING NO MORE THAN 30 POUNDS IMPACTING THE FOOT
As well as making sure the work environment is safe, it’s important that workers have basic health and safety training for tasks which involve lifting. A box of paper falling off a shelf, for example, can do a lot of damage to a foot, yet no-one would suggest wearing steel cap boots in the office is mandatory.
Lightweight microfibre slip on safety boot at CIS Safety
3. THE AVERAGE WORKER WILL WALK NEARLY 2000 MILES EACH YEAR
There are three common kinds of foot injury in the workplace. Things falling on feet is one category, injuries caused by slips and trips is another, but there are also conditions caused by fatigue from the distance walked and standing. Lightweight and comfortable footwear can prevent this. We have a range of workplace trainers and footwear for men and women which can make sure that days spent on your feet don’t take their toll.
Grace Ladies slip on shoe at CIS Safety
4. IN SAFETY FOOTWEAR A HEEL SHOULD HAVE A BROAD BASE AND BE NO HIGHER THAN 4CM. IF WORN FOR LONG STRETCHES, THEY SHOULD BE NO MORE THAN 2CM IN HEIGHT.
In some companies, a dress code can require that women in particular wear high heels. But European safety standards set out that a heel should be no more than 4cm in height for a reason. High heels are known to cause lower back pain and joint pain as well as increasing the risk of a sprained ankle. We have a range of smart ladies footwear for women who spend a lot of their working day on their feet.
5. SLIPS AND TRIPS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR NEARLY 40% OF ALL SERIOUS ACCIDENTS
The good news about this is that according to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) around 50% of slips and trips can be prevented. Good cleaning and care of floors is important, but as most slips happen on wet floors, a simple safety sign after mopping can prevent a nasty and costly trip.
Take a look at our footwear range here: www.cisafety.com/footwear
