Hemel Hempstead, England — “If you value your feet, don’t always believe what you see,” the British Safety Industry Federation cautions after finding that most safety footwear from nonregistered suppliers doesn’t meet advertised expectations.
BSIF, which works with British authorities to keep dangerous, noncompliant personal protective equipment off the market, offers that message in a video it says is the first in a series that’s intended to “starkly demonstrate the difference between real-life laboratory testing to appropriate standards with the fanciful videos advertising outlandish performance claims that are all over the internet.”
A recent BSIF analysis of nonmember safety footwear found that 79% of products failed to meet required British safety standards. The products didn’t pass tests for impact protection, midsole penetration and toecap compression. In addition, many of the products weren’t slip-resistant to the required standard, BSIF found.
“Despite its bold claims,” the video says, “our tests show this footwear would not protect you properly from harm. Be careful who you trust. Look for the BSIF shield and only buy from reputable suppliers.”
