Recent changes to the law in recent times have meant that personal protective equipment (including safety footwear and boots) is offered by employers at no cost to the employee. However, with the abundance of safety footwear available on the market, it's difficult to figure out the exact requirements of your workforce and which items meet the requirements of the work and people involved. Sole descriptions are varied and range from 'improved grip' to 'excellent multi-directional slip-resistance'. In most cases, footwear is described as slip-resistant, but without providing any details of the conditions under which the footwear is most appropriate.In selecting your footwear, you need to think about a number of things aside from the resistance to slip, including quality, comfort and other safety features required for example, toe protection. Even the HSE suggests that your decision may need to be an compromise.Safety footwear - as with other types of PPE - should only be utilized as a last option' after all sensible or practical steps have been taken to manage the risk involved. Before you purchase safety shoes, it is recommended to consult a recent existing risk assessment in the area you're purchasing for, or take one out if it does not exist (more on this below).Use the guide to navigate around with the help of the links below:- What are safety shoes?- What are the different types of safety boots and footwear categorized?- Different levels of protection- Choose the appropriate booties that are safe for you business- Evaluating safety boot and footwear suppliers/manufacturers- To meet the requirements of your workforce- Floor surface type- Maintenance and inspection- Conclusion- ReferencesWhat are the safety footwear?Safety boots and safety footwear has different levels of protection. It is vital to establish that you are protected at the right level depending on the potential hazards involved to ensure maximum protection.Injury hazards could include:- Impact by heavy objects, resulting in crush injuries- sharp objects - possibility of puncturing the sole- the absorption or absorption of some elements - like water or oil- Build-up of static electricity- Extreme temperatures- When deciding on safety footwear, consider these aspects:- ensure that your footwear meets EN ISO 20345 Standards (see below)- Material - leather or synthetic- Indoor or outdoor use- Temperature - extreme cold or hot environments- The climate - sun, snow or rainy conditions- Hazards - petroleum and chemical use.- How are safety boots and footwear categorized?- Safety shoes are available in a variety of style and type, including:Safety boots: the most common type of safety footwear, incorporating protective toe-caps with many other safety features including slip-resistant soles, penetration-resistant midsole and insulation against extremes of heat and cold.safety boots supplier : like safety boots, these usually have protective steel toe-caps although, as with safety boots, are available 'metal free' - so-called composite footwear - which are lighter.Safety trainers: possibly thought of as more aesthetically appealing by wearers They are more casual. There are steel toe caps while others are plastic - called composite or composite cap (as in the previous paragraph).Riggers are described as 'a true standard of industrial footwear'4. Rigger boots are one of the types of pull-on safety boot; the name "rigger" originates from the reality that they were a common choice for workers on offshore oil rigs of the North Sea, but are now worn by all kinds of manual workers as a general use work boot. The concerns with this type of safety footwear have been raised with regards to the lack of ankle support.Wellingtons are typically constructed of rubber and designed for work in moist environments they are also used in jobs where the shoes need to be cleaned and disinfected due to hygiene reasons, eg in the food industry and chemical industries.Clogs may be worn as safety footwear. They are usually made of beech wood, and can include steel toe-caps and thin rubber soles to ensure better tread.Ladies' selection of safety footwear for women in a range of designs (boot or shoe, trainer) and with the necessary features like steel toe caps, heat-resistant midsoles and oil repellent soles.For footwear for health conditions (eg diabetes; plantar fasciitis) Please refer to the list below.Keep in mind that suppliers and manufacturers play a major role in ensuring that products that are suitable are readily available and that firms have the necessary information their customers to make best decision.