Safety footwear for different environments

Responding is Kevin Oberle, senior director of global insights and engagement, KEEN Utility, Portland, OR.

Fashion and lifestyle trends have been major drivers in the evolution of personal protective equipment for indoor and manufacturing environments, specifically safety footwear. The innovation of performance and protective materials have allowed manufacturers to keep pace with footwear trends and meet the growing demands of this new category of worker.

The growth of manufacturing, warehousing and distribution in the United States has created new employment opportunities that may require long days of standing, moving, bending and more. Many workers entering these fields may be unfamiliar with their unique safety requirements. For many, this can even be their introduction to a working environment that necessitates or requires PPE, and they may be predisposed to favoring the comfort and style of their sneakers without considering the benefit of footwear built for safety and performance.

To meet the demand of consumer trends, footwear manufacturers are innovating a new generation of work shoes – safety footwear with athletic silhouettes that still feature the performance and safety enhancements often required in indoor manufacturing settings. These new work shoes emphasize agility, performance and comfort without sacrificing safety. They provide variety and versatility unseen in traditional work footwear and deliver an aesthetic that feels more athletic and mainstream while still meeting the safety and performance demands of these movement-intensive jobs.

These work sneakers, constructed with a combination of mesh and textiles, frequently offer durability in high-abrasion areas along with breathability for comfort throughout the workday. Additionally, this footwear is often nonmarring, which is critical for manufacturing settings where workers must be careful to not scratch materials they may be producing.

At the same time, this footwear is designed to keep workers safe and comfortable, while still emphasizing speed and a lightweight feel. For example, consider workers who are required to wear footwear with a protective toe cap to help reduce impact or crush injuries. These caps historically have been made from steel and aluminum. Although they’re still excellent options, there are now a variety of lighter, nonmetallic materials for toe caps such as carbon-fiber, which is 15% lighter than steel. Over the course of a long shift on your feet, this reduction in weight adds up. Other examples of performance features frequently included in this footwear that may not be found in your everyday sneakers include enhanced cushioning as well as oil- and-slip-resistant enhanced outsoles to prevent slips, trips and falls.

There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to selecting safety footwear, so before purchasing, it’s essential for workers to understand the unique hazards of their jobsite, as well as requirements from their company and regulatory bodies such as OSHA. Safety managers and supervisors are an excellent starting point for both new and existing workers to learn about these specific requirements.

Editor's note: This article represents the independent views of the author and should not be considered a National Safety Council endorsement.