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Safety shoes are often worn daily in environments of varying degrees of rigour: construction sites, warehouses, outdoors, etc. Put through their paces, they eventually wear out: yet a worn-out safety shoe can pose a risk to the wearer’s safety and comfort.
Safety shoes are often worn daily in environments of varying degrees of rigour: construction sites, warehouses, outdoors, etc. Put through their paces, they eventually wear out: yet a worn-out safety shoe can pose a risk to the wearer’s safety and comfort.
Safety tips
Update
The sole is the first thing to check on your safety footwear. Its role is to prevent slipping, particularly on wet or greasy surfaces. During the design phase, safety footwear undergoes grip testing in the laboratory, but this performance tends to diminish over time.
“The design of the sole isn’t about aesthetics; it’s a technical function. When the lugs flatten, the shoe becomes slippery,” warns Julie Jacquier.
Some ranges, such as Delta Plus’s sports range, feature wear indicators moulded into the sole, much like those on car tyres: “When at least two indicators are visible, the shoes need replacing,” explains Julie Jacquier.
These indicators are useful for workers, but also for procurement and HSE managers, who can thus better manage replacements and avoid over-consumption.
On some construction sites, it is not uncommon to step on a nail. Sometimes the foot is not affected, but the sole is.
In this case, many people simply carry on working without a second thought. This is a mistake: “It’s like a motorbike helmet that has been knocked: you can no longer guarantee that it will protect you again. If a nail has pierced the sole, it’s best to replace the shoe,” insists Julie Jacquier. Even if an accident has been avoided, safety is no longer guaranteed.
The steel or composite toe cap on safety shoes is designed to protect against impacts and crushing. The toe cap is integrated into a system: it rests on the sole and is encased in leather or textile.
“If this covering is torn or punctured, the toe cap is no longer held in place properly. In the event of an impact, it will no longer protect the foot as effectively,” warns Julie Jacquier. As soon as a tear appears that exposes the toe cap, the shoe must be replaced.
When buying safety shoes, many workers tend to choose a size larger, for fear that the toe cap will be uncomfortable. Others do not lace their shoes properly.
“These mistakes increase friction at the back of the shoe and cause the fabric at the heel to wear out. This can lead to blisters. What’s more, with this layer of fabric missing, the shoe becomes too loose and doesn’t fit properly. And a poorly fitting safety shoe cannot fulfil its purpose,” emphasises Julie Jacquier.
The insole (known as the “footbed”) consists of a layer of foam covered with a textile layer. Sometimes this textile layer wears out, warps or peels away.
“If it starts to form creases, this can create pressure points leading to pain and discomfort,” notes Julie Jacquier, “this fabric also has an absorbent function; if it comes away, it can cause excessive sweating.” For the wearer’s comfort, it is therefore best to replace the shoe.
The conclusion is obvious: prevention is better than cure. A damaged safety shoe will no longer fulfil its role optimally, even if it still appears “wearable”.
Watch the video to discover the technical benefits of the new Sport range of safety footwear, the design of which marked a turning point in the history of Delta Plus footwear.
Research into safety footwear also involves preventing musculoskeletal disorders through innovative designs.
