The main feature of industrial safety shoes is that the toe cap can withstand the impact of 20 kg of hard objects from a vertical height of 1 m and absorb 200 joules of kinetic energy. Most contemporary safety shoes have added other safety features to develop different categories of products. Includes a bottom plate design that prevents the soles from being pierced by nails and other sharp objects. Other related features include slip resistance [forward movement] and grip [backward movement]. Other safety features of the sole include pre-set low antistatic properties, resistance to temperature variability, and resistance to specific fuels and chemicals [acid-base].
Comfort and hygiene
Comfortable safety shoes can increase worker productivity and prevent chronic diseases of the feet or legs.
The more important indicators of comfort performance include the upper material must meet specific waterproof and breathable standards, the inner material should be easy to absorb sweat, and the smell is easy to dissipate after taking off the shoes.
Other safety features include a fitted sole design, support for the foot and arch, soft elasticity, a foot pad and a heel shockproof design.
Durable
Industrial safety shoes are made of cowhide or buffalo. The sole is usually cast directly into the upper, and the combined effect is quite perfect, which greatly reduces the phenomenon of bottoming, water seepage or dust. The sole has the characteristics of durability, wear resistance and puncture resistance. Therefore, even in a tough working environment, it can play a safety protection role in a very durable time.
When choosing a safety shoe, you can follow the following 5 points:
A. In addition to the appropriate type of safety shoes, it is also important to fit the feet and make them comfortable. It is very important to carefully select the appropriate shoe size.
B. Safety shoes should have a non-slip design, not only to protect people's feet from injury, but also to prevent accidents caused by the operator being slipped.
C, a variety of different performance safety shoes, to achieve their respective protective performance of technical indicators, such as the toes are not bruised, the soles of the feet are not stabbed, insulated and conductive requirements. But safety shoes are not omnipotent.
D. Before using safety shoes, it is necessary to carefully inspect or test. In electrical and acid and alkali operations, damaged and cracked safety shoes are dangerous.
E. Protective shoes should be properly kept after use. Rubber shoes should be rinsed with water or disinfectant and dried to extend the service life.
The sole of the safety shoe is generally molded by a polyurethane material, which has the advantages of acid and alkali resistance, water resistance, oil resistance, insulation, wear resistance and light weight. 3 times more wear resistant than ordinary rubber soles. It is soft and light, and weighs only 50%-60% of the rubber sole. Different safety shoes have different scopes of application and different functions:
Protective toe safety shoes
The inner head safety performance is AN1 grade, suitable for loading and unloading, mining, petroleum, quarrying, metallurgy, port, machinery, construction, forestry, chemical industry, etc.
Anti-piercing safety shoes
The puncture resistance is grade 1, suitable for mining, fire protection, construction, forestry, cold work, machinery and so on.
Electrically insulated safety shoes
Suitable for electricians, electronic operators, cable installers, substation installers, etc. Note: Suitable for working environment with power frequency below 1KV, working environment should keep the upper dry. Avoid contact with sharp objects, high temperatures and corrosive substances, and the bottom must not be corroded and damaged.
Anti-static safety shoes
It can eliminate the static accumulation of human body and is suitable for flammable workplaces, such as gas station operators and liquefied gas filling workers. Note: It is forbidden to use as insulated shoes; wear anti-static shoes should not wear insulated wool stockings or use insulated insoles at the same time; anti-static shoes should be used together with anti-static clothing; anti-static shoes should not be used for more than 200 hours. The shoe resistance value is tested once. If the resistance is not within the specified range, it cannot be used as an anti-static shoe.
Acid and alkali safety shoes
Suitable for electroplating, pickling, electrolysis, liquidation, chemical operators, etc. Note: Acid and alkali resistant shoes can only be used in acid and alkali working places with low concentration; avoid contact with high temperature, sharp damage to the upper or sole leakage; apply water to wash the acid and alkali liquid on the shoes after wearing, then Allow to dry and avoid direct sunlight or drying.
Before choosing, we must first understand the main hazards that cause direct or indirect injury to the staff's feet. There are the following six items:
A. Touched by a hard, rolling or falling object.
B. Pierced the sole or the body of the shoe by sharp objects.
C. Cut by sharp objects and even tear the skin.
D. The site is lubricated and falls.
E. Contact with chemicals, molten metals, high temperature and low temperature surfaces.
F. Working in an environment full of flammable gas. If the release of static electricity is not appropriate, it will become a source of ignition at any time, causing an explosion.
The right choice of safety shoes can be measured and selected from the structural aspects of the shoes:
A, shoe type: that is, the length and width of the shoe model, the width of the shoe body is tight with the foot.
B. Upper: Whether the softness of leather can be natural and suitable when walking.
C, shoe state: Whether the whole shoe state can stick to the foot without hitting the foot, loose and not off, flexible.
D, shoe body: common leather, artificial leather, PVC and synthetic fiber. These materials have their own advantages. For example, the leather body is more durable and wearable, and it is more comfortable to wear, but the function of resisting corrosive liquids is not good. Faux leather can be used in the case of waterproofing, corrosive chemicals or other contaminants, but if the surface is worn out, the function will be affected. Polyvinyl chloride is more suitable for use in wet environments and is also easy to clean, but can be decomposed by some chemicals.
E, toe cap: The toe cap of the safety shoe is equipped with a steel cap, the main function is to protect the toe from being injured or crushed. If employees need to perform more heavy work, such as construction workers or employees carrying heavy goods, the safety shoes and steel caps must be made of corrosion-resistant and 200-joule (J) impact resistance.
F, inner pad: Whether the correct use of vibration-activating function, sweat-absorbing function, massage function, health care function structure.
G, Neri: Whether the correct use of ventilation, waterproof, warmth, environmentally friendly functional materials.
H, sole: The material commonly used is all rubber, vulcanized rubber, or polyvinyl chloride. The soles are mainly resistant to abrasion, chemical corrosion, heat insulation and oil. However, due to the different characteristics of the materials, the functions are also different. The sole of the safety shoe is fitted with a steel sheet, which is used to prevent the sole from being pinched or hard. In addition to the use of a non-slip rubber sole, the design of the sole is also important for the anti-slip function. The soles are designed for regional and various environments. The substrate and anti-slip requirements are used in different degrees. For example, the environment is relatively non-slip, and the lightweight substrate is used. The outdoor site environment is reinforced with anti-slip, wear-resistant substrate and can withstand harsh environments. Subdivided into: white-collar, blue-collar, wages, administrative industry, light industry, heavy industry, construction site, tourism, service industry, etc.
Fashion design is increasingly attracting consumers' attention, and more and more safety models imitate the shape and color of sports shoes. According to the statistics of Bureau of Labor in the United States: foot and leg protection: 66% of workers with leg injuries did not wear safety shoes, protective shoes, 33% were wearing casual shoes, and 85% of injured workers were hit by items. Unprotected shoe parts. To protect the legs from damage from falling objects, rolling, sharp objects, molten metal, hot surfaces, and slippery surfaces, workers must use appropriate foot restraints, safety shoes, or boots or leggings. The toe cap of a safety shoe must have sufficient function to prevent heavy and sharp material from colliding, in accordance with national standards.
Consumers should choose the type of protection toe safety shoes according to different workplaces. Among the five protection performance levels of An1, An2, An3, An4 and An5, which protect the toe safety shoes, the An1 level is higher and the An5 level is lower. High-grade protective toe safety shoes have high pressure and impact resistance at the front end, and the toe protection is good, so the more the toe is easily bruised or crushed, the more serious the injury is. It is necessary to use high-level protective toe safety shoes, and for some operations where the toes may be bruised or crushed, and the degree of injury is unlikely to be serious, the low-level protective toe safety shoes may be used because of the level. High shoes are generally expensive, cumbersome and poorly comfortable. Therefore, the protective toe safety shoes should be properly selected according to the characteristics of the work.
Consumers can choose to protect the toe safety shoes of different prices, styles and materials according to their own needs. Usually, the leather shoes are new and light, and the outer sole is made of polyurethane material, which is wear-resistant and expensive. The adhesive shoes are a traditional craft with a long history of production, and the price varies according to the style and materials. The price of the tire bottom shoes is relatively cheap. The price of the tire bottom is not the same as the style and materials. In addition, the injection shoes and the adhesive shoes have poor air permeability, and the sewing shoes have better air permeability and comfortable wearing.
When purchasing, consumers should first confirm whether the manufacturer of the product has a national production license for industrial products (not required for imported goods) and a safety mark certification. On this basis, check whether the product has the manufacturer's name and address, production license number, safety mark certification number, production date, product standard number, whether the product certificate and instruction manual are attached, and pay special attention to whether the shoe is on the machine. There is a product name (or "protected toe"), shoe size and protective performance level. In addition, the distribution company should be required to present the test report of the batch of products and check the validity period.
We should check the appearance quality when purchasing. You can check whether there are disability, uneven color, heavy needle, jump stitch, broken thread and uneven stitch code. Whether the inner header is skewed, etc.
Usually, the sole of the safety-preventing safety shoe is made of PU material or rubber material, and the physical and chemical properties of the material change with time, the use environment and the wearing habit of the wearer, so that the wear resistance and the adhesive fastness of the safety shoe are made. The functions such as hardness and comfort are gradually weakened.