Safety shoes are the first line of defense for workers who are exposed to hazardous work environments. Without wearing industrial shoes, workers are at risk of injuries to their feet and toes. This could be from falling heavy objects, sharp objects on the floor or slipping. Wearing shoes designed to withstand the challenges of the workplace can give peace of mind. The right safety shoes can prevent injuries and, in some cases, fatalities.
Why Are Safety Shoes Essential?
Certain industries involve hazards and dangers that put workers’ lives at risk every time they report for work. While it’s inevitable that they will face these dangers, ensuring they have adequate protection is crucial in preventing injuries and fatalities.
Just how serious are workplace injuries? Here are some compelling statistics that highlight the pressing need for wearing protective equipment, such as safety work boots. The following data are provided by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics:
- 2.8 million nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses in the US in 2023 (7.5% increase from 2022)
- 112.9 incidence rate per 10,000 full-time workers annually
- 2.7 cases or incidence rate per 100 full-time workers annually
- Median of 10 days away from work due to workplace injuries or illnesses
- The age range for affected workers is 25 to 34
Here are additional workplace safety statistics from the National Safety Council:
- 4,695 preventable deaths in 2022 (a 5% increase from 2021)
- 3.2% death rate in 2022 per 100,000 workers
- Overexertion and bodily reactions (such as non-impact injuries and repetitive motion) are among the top causes of workplace injuries or fatalities in 2022
- Contact with objects and equipment is the second leading cause of fatalities and workplace injuries in the US
- Falls, slips and trips are the third leading cause of workplace fatalities and injuries
- Common injuries resulting from exposure to harmful substances include electricity, radiation, and temperature extremes
Employers impose various workplace strategies to improve safety and reduce injuries (or fatalities). Wearing the proper safety shoes is rated for the type of risk in the workplace, which makes it a crucial part of the safety guidelines.
Understanding Work Boots Safety Standards
Industrial work shoes undergo numerous standard certifications to ensure they meet the requirements for workplace safety. There are specific certifications unique to each industry, ensuring they are designed for the hazards within a particular work environment.
It is the employer’s responsibility to ensure all workers exposed to health and safety risks have adequate protection. Personal protective equipment (PPE) is one example of protective measures to mitigate the risks within the work environment, especially with the prevalence of workplace foot injuries.
European Certifications
European certifications are the most common forms of safety certifications on work boots and safety shoes. The level of shoe protection corresponds to the safety needs of each user. It varies by work environment, so ensure you have the right safety certification when buying industrial shoes.
But before diving into what each safety standard means, it’s crucial to familiarize yourself with how these standards are determined. The European safety standard certifications are labeled to fall within any of the following categories, with SB as the lowest level and S3 as the highest.
SB
The SB standard certification is determined after conducting tests on various shoe components, such as the inner sole, upper sole, and the shoe assembly. It also includes additional tests like moisture absorption, wear and tear resistance. The sole is tested for its thickness, slip resistance, and flexion resistance. Meanwhile, the top is evaluated for its resistance to impact and crushing.
Any footwear that is certified with the SB standard means that it offers basic protection. They may have additional safety features, such as slip-resistant soles and safety toe caps. They are recommended for work environments with a dry and flat floor.
S1
The S1 standard for industrial shoes means they have undergone the same rigorous testing as SB-rated shoes. However, there are more requirements for added safety: antistatic properties, closed back, and heel energy absorption.
S1-rated safety shoes are suitable for dry working environments. However, there is another sub-category called S1 P rating. These shoes meet additional requirements for protection against puncture wounds. Therefore, you should look for S1 P rated shoes when you work in an environment with a higher risk of suffering from puncture wounds or injuries.
S2
The S2 standard rating on safety shoes fulfills the same requirements as S1 shoes, but with an additional feature: being water-repellent. The material can repel water to prevent water from penetrating into the shoes so are suitable for wet working environments. The only downside to S2 rated shoes is that they do not have puncture-resistant soles.
S3
The highest shoe rating for industrial shoes is the S3 level. They offer the same protection as the S1 and S2 shoes, but have puncture-resistant soles (which are lacking in the S2 shoes). These shoes offer the highest protection level and are recommended in wet working environments or work sites with hazardous ground conditions (such as the presence of sharp objects).
Now that you understand the basic ratings for safety shoes, it’s time to move on to the European and other standard certifications for industrial shoes.
The New Protection Levels
The ones mentioned above are standard safety ratings for industrial shoes and work boots. However, newer protection levels were introduced to optimize the protection level that shoes can offer for workers who are exposed to different hazards at work.
- S4 – These shoes have a protective toe cap, slip resistance, fully enclosed heel, electrical resistance, and energy absorption under the heel.
- S5 – These shoes have the same protective features as S4 shoes, but with a metal insert and cleated outsole.
- S6 – These shoes have the same protective features as S4 shoes, but with water penetration protection and whole shoe water resistance.
- S7 – These shoes have the same protective features as S4 shoes, but with additional protection, such as a metal insert, water penetration protection, a cleated outsole, and whole shoe water resistance.
In addition to having new classes of shoe protection levels, there are also additional codes indicated by the P or L. These additional codes indicate additional protection.
EN ISO 20345
The EN ISO 20345 certification is a safety standard that defines the basic and advanced requirements that shoes must fulfill to deliver workplace safety. Any shoes that have this standard certification label comply with the safety standard for work environments that expose employees to falling or rolling objects, sharp objects, exposure to hot or cold substances, and any risks against bumps or crushing.
In addition to the protective qualities mentioned above, any shoes rated with this certification as complied with the testing on ergonomics, mechanical risks, slippage, and thermal risks. It is recommended for individuals engaged in activities exposure to chemicals and electrical insulation.
The protective footwear with EN ISO 20345 certification can absorb a minimum impact of 200 Joules and minimum strength of 15 kN in the toe cap. This shoe is also equipped with antistatic properties, making it fit for anyone working with electrical components.
EN ISO 20347
The EN ISO 20347 safety standard on work boots outlines the protective requirements for occupational footwear. Any shoes with this certification label signify that they have the following properties:
- They are fully-enclosed with energy-absorbing heels
- They must be anti-static
- They must have cleated soles
- They must have slip-resistant outsoles
Shoes with this certification label are suited for various work environments, such as for healthcare workers, cleaners, butchers, chefs, and hospitality workers. Unlike for the EN ISO 20345 certified shoes, this occupational footwear standard does not require shoes to have a safety toe cap. Therefore, these are not recommended in workplaces that expose the workers to impact or heavy compressions, such as construction sites or manufacturing warehouses.
ISO vs. EN vs. ANSI (European) Standards
When checking safety shoes for their safety label, there are two standards that you might encounter: ISO and EN. They offer different safety ratings and so it is important to distinguish what they mean to help you make an informed decision when buying safety shoes for work.
The ISO standards provide an international framework for workplace footwear. This ensures that all shoes are rated for quality and safety, which ensures uniformity in safety shoe manufacturing across different markets.
On the other hand, the European (EN) standards are specific to shoes manufactured in Europe. These provide detailed requirements for the manufacturing and testing of work boots and shoes for safety.
The ANSI Certification is the one that governs shoe manufacturing for work and safety shoes in the US. The American National Standards Institute conducts tests on shoes to certify them for their ability to protect workers from various types of work hazards.
Tests and Certifications
Industrial shoes designed to offer protection in hazardous work environments undergo rigorous testing before they are certified. These tests are carried out by accredited organizations to assess the different features and qualities, ensuring they meet the specific industry standards relating to the industry.
Material Strength
The first test on safety shoes focuses on material strength. It evaluates the material for strength and durability, ensuring it can withstand the wear and tear of being exposed to hazardous conditions day in and out.
Impact Protection
Testing work shoes for impact is critical to determine the capacity of the footwear to protect the wearer’s feet against impact. They are rated based on the joules (units of energy) to match the specific footwear based on the risks that employees are exposed to, especially when working with heavy equipment at risk of falling.
Sole Durability
The sole comes into contact with the floor, so it is crucial they are tested to provide adequate protection against hazards on the floor. It is especially important when workers are exposed to sharp or pointed objects that could puncture the sole and cause injuries. Industrial-rated shoes must be able to withstand such sharp objects and difficult terrains to protect the wearer’s feet.
Electrical Resistance
Safety shoes are tested for their resistance to static and electricity, especially in work environments with electrical hazards. Shoes are tested to ensure they can effectively insulate the worker’s feet so they are protected against electrical charges.
Selecting Shoes Based on Industry Safety Standards
Knowing the safety standards for work footwear is not enough. How you use that information is more critical to ensure your safety in any work environment.
The first step to buying the right shoes that can offer adequate protection is to identify the specific work environment risk. Are you at risk of objects falling on your feet? Is it an electrical hazard or slipping that you are worried about?
Understanding the specific work conditions and matching the shoes that can offer the features that protect you from danger is critical. This provides you with the information you need to match the shoes with the necessary classification for that hazard.
How to Ensure Legitimacy of Safety Shoes Certification?
The safety shoe certification from accredited organizations is only given to shoes that were tested and certified for their performance and safety features. But, how do you ensure that you are getting the authentic label?
You must inspect the labels closely. Ensure that they are not tampered with and are given by the corresponding agencies that provide these certification labels.
Another way to ensure you have legitimate safety shoes with proper certification is to buy from reputable suppliers. Choose suppliers that have a reputation in the industry, or have been around for many years. This ensures you are protected from counterfeit shoes that do not meet the safety standards required for your workplace.
Finally, you can check with the manufacturer and evaluate their technical data sheets. They will provide detailed information on the shoe material, construction, and other safety features to give you peace of mind that you are getting the right level of protection.
Final Thoughts
Understanding the different classifications and certification labels can be overwhelming. However, it pays to familiarize yourself with these standard classifications as you cannot afford to compromise on safety at work. These safety shoes are your first line of defense against injuries, and are worth every penny you invest to ensure your protection.
