Protective footwear – the art of choosing the right safety shoe

There are safety shoes and then there are safety shoes. When talking about protective footwear, you normally refer to three different types: safety shoes, light safety shoes and working shoes.

 

Before you decide which safety shoes to buy, check that the shoes’ protective class corresponds to the risks you face in your workplace. What potential accidents could happen? What type of floor is there in your working environment? What temperature do you work in? You need to factor this in before you decide on a pair of new shoes. When you know which features are important to you, you can begin your search. A good starting point is to check the certification standard of the shoes. At Arbetsskydd Express we only sell protective footwear that is certified to EN ISO 20345. (We sell other types of shoes as well but we don’t call them safety shoes.)

 

EN ISO 20345 signifies that the safety shoes are up to standard according to height, toe cap, outsole, and the shoes’ permeability of water vapor. These parameters protect against accidents and injuries involving, for example: impacts, crush damage, rolling objects, heat, cold, and warm substances. The protective toe cap is also strong enough to withstand a load of >200 J. Within EN ISO 20345, there are several types of protection classes that include additional basic requirements. For example:

S1: A full shoe that has anti-static properties, an oil-resistant sole, and ergonomic cushioning in the heel.

S2: Has the same features as S1 but also includes protection against water penetration and has cushioning in the sole.

S3: Same as S1 and S2 but with penetration protection and a custom outsole. 

S5 (shoes in PVC or PU): has antistatic properties, ergonomic cushioning in the heel, an oil-resistant sole, penetration protection and a custom outsole.

Beyond this, the shoes may have several features in addition to those mandatory for their safety class, for example: thermal or cold insulation, waterproofing, or a textile protective midsole.

 

 

 

Here’s a selection from our wide range, but we have safety shoes and work shoes for all types of jobs. Contact us here if you need more help.