Work and tactical boots have many things in common. First, they must be tough and comfortable at the same time. Protective and lightweight. Waterproof, breathable and skid resistant. Versatile enough to take on all kinds of difficult conditions and to help the wearer breeze past them. And finally, good quality boots can help to prevent accidents and injuries.
Tough boots for tough jobs
Comfortable work boots are essential for people who work in difficult and dangerous jobs. They are necessary to getting the job done. Construction workers walk three times more each day than the average person, taking about 30,000 steps a day. A active job that keeps a person moving all day mean that the feet will perspire, producing as much as 200 ml of moisture in a day.
Then there are slippery and uneven floors, heavy loads to move, and machinery with moving parts. All of which means that having the right footwear can be crucial to workplace safety. This is why at the present time, the industrial market for safety shoes and boots, rubber or plastic boots, and foot and leg guards in the U.S. is around $1 billion.
Work boots prevent injuries
Steel toe boots are a requirement in many workplaces, and for a good reason. In workplaces with slippery floors and heavy loads being moved in close proximity with workers, the chances of an accident or injury are legion. Slips and falls are the most common types of workplace injuries, and can cause serious damage.
High traction work boots help to prevent serious injury, and studies have shown that among workers who sustained foot injuries, only 23% were wearing the requisite safety shoes or boots. The American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) has developed standards for workplace safety. In particular ASTM F2413-11 lists details about the measurement of the safety performance of work boots.
Consequences of work place Injuries
The United States Department of Labor reports that in 2012, there were 666 fatal injuries due to falls, slips and trips. This is about 15% of the total number of fatal workplace injuries.
Even when injuries are non-fatal, they lead to the loss of seven days of work on average for each injury, according to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics.
It is to prevent injuries like these that OSHA requires all employers to conduct a hazard assessment. According to 29 CFR 1910.132(d), the hazard assessment is used to identify risks in the workplace, which includes foot injury hazards.
Finding good heavy duty work boots
As for all footwear, the fit matters when it comes to work and tactical boots. A proper fit leaves room for toes. There should be about 12.5mm of space between the toes and the front of the boot. Boots can be made of composite or steel materials but they must have a protective toe cap that is permanently fixed inside the boot.
Well designed work and tactical boots are a prerequisite for people working in some of the toughest conditions. They provide comfort and safety to allow the workers to get the job done.
