Is It Time To Change Your Safety Boots?

By Author: Jack Storey
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Your health and safety in the workplace are of utmost importance, and good quality safety footwear plays a crucial role in that. Continuing to use safety footwear that has been damaged can increase the risk of injury. On top of the reduced level of protection, wearing old work boots can lead to physical discomfort, muscle pain and cramps and even back pain.

When it comes down to general wear and tear, the frequency at which you will be required to replace your safety footwear will very much depend on your particular working environment and how regularly the boots are worn. However there are both obvious and subtle warning signs that you can look out for, which all act as definite indicators that it is time for a safety footwear update.

Checking your impact resistant footwear

Impact resistant boots usually come fitted with toe reinforcement. This type of boot needs to be thrown out as soon as any of the internal metal parts showing through to the outer part of the boot, this could be the metal guard that protects the metatarsal, or the steel toecap of the boot. In particular, you should check the boots regularly ...
... for signs of wear or damage around the toe area.

Any time you accidentally drop something heavy on to your safety boots, you should really replace them. Even if the impact may have seemed mild, the toe reinforcement area could well be flawed, meaning that you have drastically minimized foot protection. While it is usually quite easy to notice a damage done to a regular steel toe cap, reinforced toes produced using TPU and other composite materials can be harder to examine, so it is better to be safe than sorry.

Checking your chemical and water resistant footwear

For your own safety it is crucial that these boots remain completely resistant to water and chemicals. Remember to check this type of boot regularly for any signs that the sole and upper are beginning to separate or the toecover is beginning to loosen. As soon as any such separation is visible, the safety boots are to be repaired professionally or otherwise thrown out.

When it comes to rubber safety boots, then the state of the rubber should be inspected for holes, cracks or punctures. You can test for holes and cracks that are not visible to the naked eye by lining your boots with kitchen roll, paper or cloth. Next place the boots inside a bucket of water with the water level a couple of inches below the top edge of your boots. Leave your boots for 24 hours or overnight then check the cloth or paper. If the cloth or paper is damp, it is time to replace those rubber boots.

This safety footwear guide was brought to you by blogger and health and safety worker Martin Stevenson. He recommends RS Components for the widest selection of affordable safety boots. More details visit http://uk.rs-online.com