Safety shoes are an essential part of personal protective equipment (PPE) for many workers, especially those who work in industries such as construction, manufacturing, and healthcare. In environments where floors may be wet or slippery, anti-slip safety shoes can help prevent accidents and injuries.
However, with so many options available, it can be challenging to identify which safety work shoes are slip-resistant.
In this blog, we will discuss how to tell if safety shoes are anti-slip and provide tips on selecting the right footwear to ensure safety in the workplace.
What Job Occupations Need Non-Slip Safety Work Shoes?
These are just a few examples of job occupations that require non-slip safety work shoes. It is essential to identify the hazards of your specific workplace and select appropriate footwear to prevent accidents and injuries.
Healthcare workers - For nurses, doctors, and other healthcare professionals working on hospital floors that might be wet or slippery, non-slip shoes are essential to prevent slips and falls.
Restaurant workers - Shoes that are resistant to slipping are essential for restaurant workers who spend their days on greasy floors, including chefs, waiters, and anybody else who works in the food service industry.
Manufacturing workers - Slip-resistant footwear is essential for employees in manufacturing industries, as wet factory floors pose a risk of slips, trips, and falls.
Construction workers - Slip-resistant shoes are a necessity for construction workers to wear on the job in order to reduce the risk of slipping and falling on construction sites, particularly when the ground is wet or icy.
Warehouse workers - Workers in warehouses need to wear shoes that are resistant to slipping since the flooring of warehouses can become slippery due to spills and wetness.
Cleaners - When working on floors that are either wet or greasy, cleaners need to wear safety working shoes that are slip-resistant so that they do not injure themselves by slipping and falling.
What Makes Non-slip Work shoes Non-slip?
Outsoles with high traction patterns or slip-resistant material make it easier to maintain a firm footing on wet or slick surfaces, making traction outsoles a key feature of slip-resistant footwear.
These kinds of work safety shoes have soles made of rubber, PVC, or another slip-resistant material to prevent injuries from slips and falls.
To be able to be sold in stores, safety shoes have been tested and approved for slip resistance, and they conform to industry safety standards such as ASTM, EN, or ISO.
Certain slip-resistant safety shoes may include extra safety features, including steel toe caps to protect the feet from large falling items or waterproof materials to keep the feet dry.
In a word, the specific hazards of the workplace should be taken into account when deciding and manufacturing a pair of non-slip safety shoes, and the shoes should provide sufficient protection and adhere to industry safety standards.
How to Spot the Right Anti-Slip Safety Shoes
Considering that you are most likely unable to try work safety shoes before the first day on the job, it is very important that you understand what you should look for before wearing it for the first time.
Read Package Information
There is no doubt that reading the package information is the most effective way of determining if the shoes are anti-slip or not.
Ensure that the description of the product indicates whether they are non-slip shoes or anti-slip shoes if you are buying them.
Moreover, it is also important to look at the material the shoes are made of. Shoes with rubberized or textured soles are more likely to be slip-resistant than those with smooth soles.
Additionally, it is advisable to read customer reviews to see what kind of experiences other people have had with the product.
Look for the Ratings
It is possible to classify safety shoes according to their slip resistance according to industry standards.
The American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) has developed a standard (F2913) that measures the slip resistance of footwear on surfaces that are wet or greasy, for example.
If you are looking for safety shoes, be sure to look for those that meet or exceed these standards.
Check for Specific Industry Certifications
A safety shoe may need to be certified if it is to be used in certain industries or workplaces. In certain industries, such as the construction industry, Occupational Safety, and Health
The administration (OSHA) has specific requirements regarding the use of slip-resistant footwear. The safety shoes you choose should be compliant with any industry-specific certifications or requirements when it comes to choosing them.
Look at the Sole
The main difference between a slip-resistant work shoe from a standard one is that anti-slip work shoes feature rubber soles that provide a stronger grip and better traction.
So, regardless of whether there is an anti-slip feature in the product description, before you wear a pair of safety shoes for work, you should never forget to check out the soles of those shoes.
It is advisable that you find a pair of slip-resistant safety shoes that have a soft or rounded side outsole that is made of EVA rubber.
There are many shoes made of EVA rubber that have an outsole and a midsole made from this synthetic resin that has a foam-like feel.
Other than EVA-made rubber, PVC –made soles are another common option for slip-resistant safety shoes. They are lightweight, oil-resistant, and provide a good grip on wet surfaces.
Also, Polyurethane is a common material used for producing shoe soles.
They are lightweight and provide good shock absorption, making them ideal for workers who are on their feet for extended periods. They offer excellent slip resistance and are often used in the construction industry.
Vibram is a newly found material in the industry when manufacturing soles for safety work shoes. This kind of substance is a high-performance rubber material and is used in the soles of some slip-resistant safety shoes.
Vibram soles are durable, provide excellent traction on wet or dry surfaces, and are often used in outdoor and rugged work environments.
All in all, a regular shoe with a typical flat sole can easily allow liquids to get under the shoe. It is, however, possible to prevent water from getting trapped beneath the shoes by using an anti-slip sole.
Look for Other Signs
The slip-resistant safety shoes may also have other safety features such as steel-toe caps, which protect the feet from heavy objects that may fall on them, or waterproof materials, which keep the feet dry in wet conditions.
For instance, steel-toe cap shoes may include a rubber sole that is designed to help the wearer maintain their footing on slippery or wet surfaces.
Look at the Tread Pattern
It is also important to pay attention to the tread pattern of the shoes. The bottom of the outsole usually has some kind of pattern on it, such as some squiggles, circles, or hexagons.
There is a tread on the bottom of the shoe sole that can help increase the surface area and help prevent slipping on uneven surfaces.
Additionally, it is also used in order to create friction between the floor and the shoe so that you can grip the floor without collecting any water under it.
It is recommended that if you are looking for non-slip shoes, you should choose a tread pattern that has a smaller pattern in order to improve slip resistance.
When checking on lightweight safety shoes, you should also keep in mind that the spacing between each of the individual shapes must be at least two millimeters. This will ensure that water is not trapped between them, which could lead to hydroplaning.
Test the Shoes
Try on the safety shoes and see if they provide a good grip on a wet or slippery surface by walking on them if you can do so. It is a good idea to test the safety shoes on the ground so that you can see for yourself how slip-resistant they are and make an informed choice.
Make sure to also test the shoes on a dry surface to ensure they provide enough traction. Additionally, inspect the shoes for any signs of wear and tear that may indicate they need to be replaced.
Ask for Recommendations
Ask your colleagues or industry professionals if they have any recommendations for slip-resistant safety shoes if you work in a particular industry.
It is possible that they have personal experience that has proven to be effective when it comes to preventing slips and falls with certain brands or models.
This knowledge can help inform your decisions and lead to better outcomes. It is important to remember, however, that individual results may differ and what works for one person may not work for another.
It is wise to do research and test out different products before investing in a pair.
Bottom Line
Identifying anti-slip safety shoes is crucial for preventing accidents and injuries in slippery work environments.
By looking for key features such as high traction outsoles, slip-resistant materials, and safety standards compliance, workers can select the right and the most comfortable safety shoes to keep themselves safe on the job.
Remember, safety should always be the top priority in any workplace, and choosing the right safety shoes is an important step toward ensuring a safe and productive work environment.
