Work safety depends on proper protective footwear

Do you know how to choose it? If not, read our article to find more

Everyone wants shoes that are comfortable, functional and that ideally look good as well. Safety footwear, however, needs more than that. Depending on the type of profession, it may require special soles, toecaps or materials resistant to heat, oils or even cutting by a chainsaw. Learn to choose the right footwear according to the type of activity.

Let's start with the sole

The sole is the foundation of every safety shoe. When choosing footwear according to the sole, always consider the work you will use the shoes for. There are 5 basic types according to the type of sole and midsole (the comfort layer that does not come into contact with the ground).

PU	Polyurethane sole of uniform density. Footwear with a PU sole is especially suited to indoor operations, such as assembly plants and warehouses. It can briefly withstand temperatures of up to 120 °C.
PU/PU	High-density polyurethane sole with lower-density polyurethane padding. A combination of millions of compressed microscopic air bubbles. A PU/PU sole is ideal for prolonged standing indoors.
PU/TPU	High-density polyurethane sole with lower-density thermoplastic polyurethane padding. A combination suitable for indoor as well as outdoor areas.
PU/RUBBER	Midsole made of low-density polyurethane, rubber sole. These shoes are suited to outdoor use and can resist extreme conditions, such as contact with chemicals.
PU/HRO RUBBER	Midsole made of low-density polyurethane, sole made of a nitrile and rubber mixture. This sole resists contact heat of up to 300 °C for 12-15 seconds, which makes it ideal for specialized occupations, such as welders or founders.

But do not forget a comfortable insole (the inside of the sole that comes in contact with the foot) and a durable upper (tongue, throat, quarter), which should be made of quality leather or another durable material.

Special professions require special protection

Your profession may present a specific danger to your feet. In this case, ordinary protection is not enough and you need specialized footwear. What cases are these?

Instep protection

If you work with heavy objects that can fall on your feet, you need protection for your so-called metatarsal bones in your instep. This protection is provided, for example, by the STEELER METATARSAL S3 HRO M SRA ankle shoe.

STEELER METATARSAL S3 HRO M SRA bakancs

02020563

ARDITA MF S3 HRO M SRC bakancs

02020566

STEELER WELDER S3 HRO M SRA bakancs

02020564

Cut protection

The upper of chainsaw-resistant footwear is made of a special fabric that tangles in the chainsaw chain during contact and causes it to stop. An example of such a model is the GRIZZLY 3SIC S3 WR HI CI SRC high ankle boot.

Heat protection

Not only does the STEELER FOUNDER S3 HRO SRA shoe resist temperatures of up to 300 °C, but in case of direct contact with a hot object, the special shoes can be quickly shaken off without untying them.

STEELER FOUNDER S3 HRO SRA bakancs

02020565

TOOLIK O1 HRO SRA félcipő

02010144

TOOLIK MF S1P HRO SRA félcipő

02010174

Static electricity protection

Apart from the worker, shoes designed for ESD environments (combined with other elements, such as floor surface treatment, ESD gloves and protective clothing) also protect the product itself (e.g. computer components). Examples include the ZURRUM MF ESD S1P SRC shoe.