Safety Footwear

Choosing the right safety footwear for your needs is important to keep you safe while you work either on-site or on your own DIY projects.

Safety Footwear for Roofing

If you’re working on a roof, we’d suggest choosing from our range of safety boots over safety trainers, as the additional foot and ankle support will help keep you safe and comfortable while working. If you’ll be moving heavy objects while working with roof tiles or roofing sheets, then opt for one of our work boots with metatarsal protection (lookout for the ‘M’). These boots provide extra protection to your foot in addition to the toe cap.

Safety Footwear for Construction

If you’re working on a construction site, you’ll be vulnerable to a wide variety of potential hazards such as falling or dropped building materials and more. Therefore, work boots that provide robust toe protection are the minimum requirement for anyone working on a site. We’d recommend choosing work boots with metatarsal protection for their additional security – and to avoid safety shoes or trainers as these will not provide adequate support to the leg and ankle.

Safety Footwear for Forklift or Lorry Drivers

If your role involves moving goods whether in a warehouse or on the road, it’s important to protect your feet against potential accidents such as heavy objects landing onto your toes. Depending on your role it may be suitable for you to wear trainer boots, however we would recommend avoiding safety shoes or trainers due to improper levels of support.

Safety Footwear for Airside Work

If you’re working in a high-security environment such as an airport, it’s important that your footwear is both protective and avoids unnecessary hassle. That’s why we offer a range of metal-free safety boots and shoes rated up to S3 to provide protection against hazards and accidents but also to prevent metal detectors alerting staff unnecessarily.

Safety Footwear for Restaurant Staff

Safety shoes are also important to wear for anyone that works in a kitchen or restaurant as there are a variety of potential hazards, from sharp objects such as knives to slips on wet surfaces. We offer white slip-on shoes as well as a range of executive safety shoes to fit in with any restaurant uniform, whether you're front-of-house staff or kitchen staff.

Steel toe work boots have been the standard in personal protective equipment for the feet since their inception in the 1930s. More recently, however, work boots with a composite toe cap have become increasingly popular for a variety of reasons such as added comfort, lightweight and the fact that they’re metal-free. Choosing the right safety footwear for you depends on your requirements and the work environment you’ll be in.

Steel Toe Caps

Steel toe cap shoes and boots are reinforced using heavy-duty steel to protect from a variety of hazards, up to 200 joules of protection according to EN ISO 20345 – 2011. While they do provide a higher level of protection from punctures or impact than composite toe caps, steel is only required in more hazardous work environments.

Pros

• Value for money: Steel toe safety footwear is often cheaper than footwear with composite protection due to manufacturing costs.
  
  
• Higher level of protection: Although both varieties must comply with the same safety standards, steel toe caps do provide a higher level of protection against hazards.
  
  
• Less bulky: Due to the higher strength of the material, a thinner piece of steel is required to achieve the same level of protection as composite toe caps.

Cons

• Heavier: Although they are less bulky, the material used is heavier and therefore may be less comfortable for anyone doing a lot of walking in their work.
  
  
• Metal: Due to the steel, safety shoes or boots with a steel toe cap will set metal detectors off, not ideal for anyone whose work requires regular passes through detectors such as in airports.

Composite Toe Caps

A more modern alternative to the traditional steel toe cap, composite toe cap boots contain composite material in the toe and often in portions of the boot and midsole to provide protection. The composite material is often created from fibreglass, kevlar or carbon fibre. Boots with a composite toe cap are often favoured due to their comfort and lack of metal materials.

PROS

• Lightweight and comfortable: Due to the composite materials, these boots are often lighter than steel-toed alternatives. Ideal for those on their feet for long hours.
  
  
• Metal free: Composite safety footwear will not set off metal detectors, making them popular among those that work in airports or other high-security environments.
  
  
• Less conductive: Keep your feet cooler when it’s hot and warmer in cold weather.

CONS

• Lower level of protection: Although safety footwear containing composite materials are still tested to the same standards, they do not offer the same level of protection as steel toe caps.
  
  
• More expensive: Due to the costlier production process, work boots containing composite materials are generally more expensive.

Yes, in accordance with section 9 of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974, employers are required to provide employees with all necessary personal protective equipment such as safety footwear.

While it depends on a number of factors such as your work environment, the lifespan of regularly-worn safety footwear is generally expected to be between six and twelve months.

Working in roofing or construction will mean that you’re on your feet all day. Therefore, it’s important to minimise the stress placed on your feet and ankles, and to try to make your safety footwear as comfortable as possible. Avoid buying cheap substandard work boots or shoes: we stock only high-quality brands that provide the best value and quality for your money.

There are a number of ways to help make your steel toe boots more comfortable:

• Wear the correct socks: It’s important to wear the correct socks inside steel toe boots, as the toe cap can cause discomfort. Steel toe socks provide additional support through cushioning in the heel and toes, as well as a snugger fit.
  
  
• Invest in high-quality insoles: In many cases, you may find that the standard insole of your work boots is uncomfortable. Therefore, it’s important to invest in a pair of high-quality removable insoles to provide extra padding and comfort.
  
  
• Break your boots in: Properly breaking your work boots is one of the most important steps to prevent discomfort. There are a variety of methods for doing this including cold and hot water, oil and more.
  
  
• Bandage your feet and ankles: To help boost your comfort levels, wrap your feet and ankles in a bandage for an extra layer of cushioning, particularly helpful against the formation of blisters.
  
  
• Maintain your safety footwear: The best way to stay comfortable in your work boots is to clean and maintain them regularly to prevent premature wear and tear.