Workplace Safety: Your Guide to Specialized Work Footwear

Whenever workplace safety comes up as a topic of conversation, all I ever really hear is talk about proper workwear clothing items. Don’t get me wrong, workwear attire is extremely important, especially when working in potentially dangerous fields, but what I want to talk about today is a subject that’s often either skipped or just brushed over – proper work footwear.

The Importance and Variety of Work Footwear 

Work footwear is any footwear that has been specifically designed to be worn in working circumstances, especially the aforementioned potentially dangerous ones. People like factory workers or farm staff are examples of employees that need to buy specialized work footwear so they can do their job without the worry of injury.

Just like workwear clothing, workwear shoes come in a great variety of models, styles, materials, and so on. From work boots, all the way to things like clogs and shoes, the options are virtually endless. This is a great thing, as you have a lot of choices, but a potential downside presents itself when that choice needs to be made. How exactly are you supposed to choose the right workwear shoes for you?

Well, the answer lies within this article. I’m going to go over three of the most important categories when it comes to choosing workwear shoes to help you make the right decision for your needs and your job.

Choosing the Right Type

Sometimes you may need more than one type of work shoes to be able to give your very best in any situation in the field, so the variety is both a blessing and a bit of a curse. As I said, there are many types of workwear shoes so you’ll need to assess your situation and truly dig into your responsibilities at work to be able to choose the right pairs.

Let’s start with boots for working. Work boots are the most common type of workwear shoe as they provide complete protection of the whole foot from heavy objects, water, electricity, and so on. What’s more, they also provide a sturdy support for your ankles, preventing any injuries like spraining from occurring. Workwear boots are an excellent choice for anyone working out in the field, anyone dealing with heavy machinery, or anyone working within a factory environment.

A more laidback option, work shoes are everything a work boot is, lacking only the ankle support and control. If you’re not lifting heavy weights and work at a place where everything is pretty much flat and dry, like operating a machine in a warehouse, for example, work shoes are going to be a perfect work shoe type for you.

Finally, we have the curious choice – clogs. Some may not expect clogs to be anywhere near the work shoe category, but they are quite useful for people who need to get out and do some quick and short work that demands protection of the feet, like truck drivers, for example. Instead of wearing restrictive boots all day long, truck drivers often opt for a more laid back shoe while driving and slip on some protective work clogs when unloading and loading containers at terminals. When you think about it, workwear clogs are quite useful and very well dispersed within such communities.

There are other types of workwear footwear, too, but they all fall into these three general categories, so look them over and see which one fits you most.

Choosing the Right Material

Once you’ve chosen the type, it’s time to look at the material.

Work shoes can come in a variety of makes, from real leather all the way to synthetic materials and other additions. Once again, you’ll need to mind your workload to be able to choose correctly. For example, if your job involves working outside a lot then a pair of sturdy, rubber boots will do the trick for you. Rubber boots won’t let any moisture penetrate their insides, thus keeping your feet dry. What’s more, they’re also very durable, so you probably won’t have to replace them for years to come.

If you don’t work outside, but still need a good pair of work shoes or boots, then real leather or well-made synthetic leather is the way to go. While rubber doesn’t really follow the form of your foot leather does. This material will shape itself according to your foot after a while, which will make the shoe super comfortable to wear. Leather is also waterproof, so you’ll be protected from potential leakages.

When the sole is in question, it’s very important for it to be sewn on, not glued on, and for it to be made out of a material like sturdy rubber, to prevent slipping, breaking, or any other potential damage to the shoe itself. Other materials can also be good, as can shoes that use a strong glue and a quality glueing process, but making sure you’re getting a non-slip, sturdy sole is of utmost importance, no matter the type.

Choosing the Additions

Waterproofing, as well as fireproofing, are, of course, additions that are always great to have, but there are others, too.

A steel toe, for example, is a great addition to look for in all types of workwear shoes as it will allow you great protection of your feet whenever you’re dealing with anything heavy and potentially dangerous. Even when you’re not it’s good to have a steel toe in place to give yourself some peace of mind. Even something as regular as a hammer can make a lot of damage, so why not be safe than sorry?

Getting footwear that requires laces instead of zippers is also another good addition you can look for. Laces provide more security and support the foot better than a zipper, confining it snuggly inside the footwear, which is exactly what you need for a good day at the job site.

Finally, if you need it, an all-around metal-like construction to allow for complete protection of the foot is also available, but this is exclusively for people working in certainly dangerous conditions.