Safety trainers are an essential part of many job roles across a variety of industries. They are designed to keep feet protected and safe while at work. They should prevent certain injuries while reducing the risk of others.
The right safety trainers should protect the whole foot, from the tip of the toes through the soles and up to the ankles. The right safety shoes can offer protection against extreme temperature, sharp objects, heavy objects, static electricity, and liquid spillages. However, there are many different options when it comes to safety trainers, so it can be difficult to determine which shoes are the right option for your industry. In the guide below, we will highlight the types of protection you can find in safety trainers.
Choosing Safety Trainers
When you shop for safety trainers, you will see abbreviations that denote a particular protective component.
Abbreviation | Protective Component |
A | Antistatic |
P | Penetration-resistantΒ |
C | Conductive |
E | Energy absorption |
M | Metatarsal Protection |
I | Electricity Insulating Footwear |
AN | Ankle Protection |
FO | Fuel Oil Resistant |
WR | Water-Resistant |
CR | Cut-Resistant Upper |
HI | Heat Insulation of Sole |
CI | Cold Insulation |
HROΒ | Heat Resistant Outsole |
WRU | Water Penetration/Absorption Upper |
You can use these abbreviations to ensure the particular safety trainers you purchase meet the regulations for the job descriptions on your job site. You will want to take comfort and material into consideration, as well as the type of protection they offer. You need to think about who will be wearing them, what tasks they will be completing while wearing them, and whether they meet your business’ security norms.
Foot injuries might not be the most common injury in the workplace, but that is largely due to the prevalence of safety trainers. The key to ensuring foot injuries remain at zero in your business is to provide safety shoes, maintain them, and replace them at the first sign of weakness. Your employees should wear them whenever they work in a high-risk area, whether that’s the duration of their shift or otherwise.
The shoes you select will depend on how much protection is necessary. Ideally, you will select a top cap resistant to up to 200 joules of impact. Anything less is not classified as a safety shoe. They should also offer anti-slip coating to protect against greasy or smooth industrial floors. If you operate a welding workshop, fire-retardant safety trainers are a must. If there is a chance of electrostatic discharges, then anti-static safety trainers are a necessity.
If there is a risk of a foot injury, safety footwear is a must. Consider whether your team completes indoor or outdoor work. For example, for mining sites, S3 would be more than suitable for this, though if there is heavy water presence, S5 might be more appropriate. S1 is an excellent option for indoor, dry environments like agri-food. A laboratory may require S2 grade, while a construction site is suitable for S1 (or S1P).
Safety Norm Categories | P | A | E | WRU | FO | WR |
SB | ||||||
SBP | π | |||||
S1 | π | π | π | |||
S1P | π | π | π | π | ||
S2 | π | π | π | π | ||
S3 | π | π | π | π | π | |
S4 | π | π | π | π | π | |
S5 | π | π | π | π | π | π |
Buy Safety Trainers
The best way to determine which safety trainers are right for your business is to carry out a risk assessment for each of the tasks your employees will carry out on the business premises.