Foot protection – Top protection with every step

What foot protection is required depends on which area an employee works in, which dangers he/she is subjected to and which legal requirements the employer has to comply with. Furthermore, wearing comfort, the material and heel shock absorption all play a role.

Find the right safety class for you

For work shoes, the following classes apply: 0B, 01, 02 and 03.
Safety shoes are divided into the following classes: SB, S1, S1P, S2, S3 and S5.
 

Class S3 safety shoes meet several requirements, which include the following:

● Energy absorption of the toe cap: 200 joules
● Closed heel area, antistatic, energy absorption in the heel area
● Protection against water ingress and water absorption
● Penetration-resistant outer sole

Depending on the model and design, work safety shoes may comprise further properties within one protection class. Exactly what those might be is specified by different abbreviations on the patch on the inside of the shoe: For example, “P” stands for puncture-resistant sole, and “SRB” for non-slip characteristics on a steel floor / in the presence of glycerine.

1 Toe protection cap
2 Penetration-resistant outer sole
3 Sole

Wearing comfort and fit

In order for employees to wear the foot protection during their working activities in accordance with regulations, wearing comfort and fit are of particular importance. Manufacturers of personal protective equipment have developed various technologies to meet this selection criterion. For example, the back can be given better protection using individual, weight-dependent heel shock absorption (1). A reduced sole thickness (2) or a modified geometry of the outer sole also relieve the musculoskeletal system of the wearer. Most manufacturers also offer models in different widths (3).

Breathable work and safety shoes are easy on the skin and ensure a pleasant sensation when wearing. The special GORE-TEX® technology is ideal for working outside, since it is watertight and simultaneously breathable. PPE specialists at Hoffmann are keen to assist you with choosing the ideal foot protection for the employees in your operation using tailored adjustments with product wearing tests right on your premises.

Sole types for work and safety shoes

A basic distinction is drawn between single-layer (mono) and double-layer (duo) soles. 

Advantage of single-layer soles: 
The special advantage of the single-layer sole is that a single material with a lower density can be sprayed on. This creates a lightweight sole which can easily adapt to the floor characteristics. 

Advantage of double-layer soles: 
With double-layer soles, two different materials with different properties can be used. For instance, the sole tread may be of rubber but the intermediate sole of polyurethane. This combines the benefits of both materials: the exceptional heat-resistance of rubber and the comfortable damping characteristics of polyurethane. 

1 Rubber
Extremely hard-wearing, heat resistant for short periods up to 300°C; good resistance to cuts and abrasion. 
Resistant to fuel, oil, microbes and a wide variety of chemicals. Heavier than PU and TPU and also somewhat less flexible when cold.

2 Nitrile rubber (perbunan)
Very hard-wearing. Heat resistant up to 220°C. Very good non-slip characteristics and excellent resistance to acids and alkalis.

3 Polyurethane (PU)
Heat resistant up to 130°C and flexible in cold down to -30°C. Resistant to oil and fuel, a wide variety of chemicals and microbes. Lighter than rubber soles. Good damping characteristics and pleasant to wear.

4 Thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU)
Similar to PU soles, but overall significantly better performance. Less abrasion means the soles last longer, and also increases the non-slip properties. In addition they offer even greater flexibility and optimised resistance to cold.

Shoes with electrostatic discharge

Not only electrostatic charging and the protection of people play an important role in industry, but also the protection of parts and equipment due to controlled dissipation. The first aspect is covered by the requirement for antistatic footwear. For product protection, the ESD-capability of safety shoes is also required. The defined ESD range is ultimately a narrowing of the antistatic range from the safety standard EN ISO 20345.

Shoes are classed as ESD shoes when the electrical resistance of the person-shoe-floor system is below 3.5 × 107 Ω or 35 M Ω as per EN 61340-5-1. Here the lower limit of the electrical resistance is 0.1 M Ω and the upper limit is 35 M Ω (3.5 × 107 Ω). An ESD-capable shoe is thus also always an antistatic shoe. Important: ESD shoes are unsuitable for use by electricians and for working on live electrical equipment.
 

Work boots in winter

When working in the cold, safety shoes/boots should be sufficiently cold-insulating or lined, so that the feet stay warm. This increases not only wearing comfort but also protects against chill. 

So that you can find suitable foot protection for your business and all your employees, our PPE advisers offer professional and personal foot measurements on site. In this process, the feet of every employee are measured individually and the right shoe model is allocated using these measurements. Next comes a wearing test. Feel free to contact our specialists about this, in person, by phone or via e-mail.

Safety and work shoes are subject to specific requirements. Safety shoes are regulated in EN ISO 20345 and work shoes are regulated in EN ISO 20347.

The Hoffmann Group provides you with everything from a single source:

- We provide individual advice, tailored to your needs
- Risk analysis, help with product selection, wearing tests, training sessions and special service offers (glove plans, skin protection plans) 

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