Comfort!
No matter how effective it is at protecting against the risks, if footwear is causing your workers harm they aren’t going to wear them. Make sure you ensure the right fit straight away (there should be no need for ‘breaking in’) and increase comfort with insole inserts and good quality work socks. It’s a good idea to allow workers to try products first to see if they are comfortable and suitable for their task and work environment, after all they are the ones that will have to wear them all day!
Maintaining compliance
All safety footwear must be properly looked after and stored when not in use in a dry, clean cupboard. They should be examined before and after use to ensure they’re in good working order, which should be carried out by trained staff members.
Employers can ask employees to clean their own safety footwear but it should be stipulated in the person’s contract of employment. If you do require workers to clean their own shoes, you would need to provide clear cleaning instructions to avoid any confusion.
An effective safety footwear maintenance system should include:
- Checking for faults, damage, dirt, wear and tear
- Testing to ensure they’re performing as intended
- Cleaning regularly to avoid build-up of dirt (referring to manufacturer’s instructions)
- If there is damage, repair where possible
- Where they are damaged beyond repair they will no longer comply with the standard and should be replaced