Personal Protective Equipment - Footwear
Personal Protective Equipment - Footwear
Personal Protective Equipment - Footwear
Introduction:
Choosing slip-resistant footwear from the whole host of products on the market can be difficult.
Sole descriptions are varied, from 'improving the grip performance' to 'excellent multi-directional
slip-resistance'. Often, footwear is just described as 'slip-resistant' and the brochure does not
describe the conditions for which the footwear is most suitable.
Footwear selection has to take account of a number of factors in addition to slip resistance, such
as comfort, durability and any other safety features required, such as toe protection. The final
choice may have to be a compromise.
Top tips:
Accidents are expensive – there are many hidden and uninsured costs. With footwear,
like any product, you tend to get what you pay for. Ensure you buy footwear which will
do the job – this will not necessarily be the cheapest. But it may be more comfortable or
attractive – ensuring that staff wear it, and it may last longer.
Specify the main surfaces and contaminants which cause slip risks in your workplace, and
seek your supplier's advice on suitable footwear.
You can commission additional slip testing through the supplier – eg on surfaces/
contaminants representative of your workplace.
Consider asking your supplier to provide trial pairs to help you make the right choice, and
do not select footwear on the basis of brochure descriptions or laboratory test results
alone.
Footwear trials should involve a representative sample of the workforce and last long
enough to produce meaningful results. Remember - workers may not wear footwear if it
is uncomfortable or impractical, no matter how effective it is.
Key points on soles and walking surfaces:
The sole tread pattern and sole compound are both important for slip resistance.
Generally a softer sole and close-packed tread pattern work well with fluid contaminants
and indoor environments. A more open pattern works better outdoors or with solid
contaminants. The only sure way to tell is to trial footwear in your environment.
Tread patterns should not become clogged with any waste or debris on the floor – soles
should be cleaned regularly. If soles do clog up then look for an alternative design of sole,
eg with a wider space between the cleats and a deeper tread pattern.
Slip resistance properties can change with wear; for example, some soles can deteriorate
with wear, especially when the cleats become worn down.
Have a system for checking and replacing footwear before it becomes worn and
dangerous.
'Oil-resistant' does not mean 'slip-resistant' – the former is just a statement that the
soles will not be damaged by oil.
Check with your supplier whether the footwear you are interested in has actually been tested for
slip resistance – older models might not have been. Where footwear has been tested, coefficient
of friction (CoF) test values must be available. CoF data can be requested from the supplier. Some
suppliers now publish it in their catalogues. The higher the CoF, the better the slip resistance.
Look for CoF results higher than the minimum requirements set out in annex A of EN ISO
20345/6/7: 2004 (A1:2007) - the standards for safety, protective and occupational footwear.
The safety features of footwear, including slip resistance, are tested according to a set of
European test standards written into EN ISO 20344:2004 (A1: 2007). Footwear which has passed
the EN test for slip resistance will be marked with one of the following codes, SRA, SRB or SRC.
The codes indicate that the footwear has met the specified requirements when tested as follows:
It should be noted that these test surfaces are not wholly representative of all underfoot
surfaces, so additional information may be needed to help to identify the best slip-resistant
shoes for your particular environment.
The Health and Safety Laboratory (HSL) carries out research on footwear testing for HSE, and
they have developed an in-house test which they have used for testing many footwear types.
See:
RR801 - A study of the effect of modifying the European Standard mechanical slip
resistance test for footwear
For many employers slip-resistant footwear plays an important role. Employers may have put in
several control measures to reduce the risk of slips, but if a slip risk still remains, introducing
footwear with slip-resistant properties may be the only effective way they can further reduce the
risk of slips. For them, making the right choice of footwear for their employees and the work
environment is vital if slips are to be reduced.
As a manufacturer or supplier you have a key role in ensuring that suitable products are available
and that procurers have the information to enable them to make the right choices.
It is essential that procurers can be sure that the chosen footwear type will live up to the product
description. Furthermore, you have a legal duty to provide accurate descriptions of your
products. An HSE study in 2008 showed that in many cases suppliers provided limited
information on slip resistance, which made it difficult for procurers to select the right footwear.
The safety features of footwear, including slip resistance, are tested according to a set of
European test standards written into EN ISO 20344:2004 (A1:2007). The performance
specifications are given in an associated set of personal protective equipment (PPE) standards,
namely:
The manufacturer has to prove slip resistance performance through testing. This is normally done
using European standard BS EN ISO 13287:2007 - Personal protective equipment – Footwear –
Test method for slip resistance. (Standards are available from BSI)
The test surfaces are not wholly representative of all underfoot conditions so you may wish to
consider having additional testing done to identify the best slip-resistant shoes for your particular
environment.
Information to be provided:
Depending on the test conditions chosen, footwear tested according to the EN standards is now
marked with one of the following codes, SRA, SRB, SRC.
The codes indicate that the footwear has met the specified requirements when tested as follows:
Footwear products once tested and certified are stamped with the CE mark. The manufacturer
also provides user information indicating the applications for which the footwear is suitable.
The test house will provide you, the supplier, with coefficient of friction (CoF) test values for the
footwear. You must include this data in the technical file associated with the footwear, and
procurers can request the CoF values from you. Some suppliers now include CoF data in their
catalogues.
For further on site assistance contact THSP on 03456 122 144 and ask to speak to an account
executive who can arrange for one of our qualified consultants to visit your workplace.