How tough does a safetytoe overshoe need to be?

Since safetytoe overshoes are intended to be worn over outer shoes it's important that they can withstand the pressure. On top of that, we all know how shoes in general are expected to deal with all terrains and all situations underfoot. If a rugged and robust overshoe is required for a particular environment then it's important to know some of the inherent qualities of what's available in the market.

In tests conducted for certification approval in Europe (CE Certified) results show that the sole of the 'Slipp-R' ranges from a mean thickness of 4.5mm to 6.9mm. Abrasion Resistance is extremely high (think auto tyres) with an average density of .90g/ml with a volume loss of only 75mm. This is much lower than the specification requirements of 250mm, or less. Tear Strength is also excellent (very important in certain environments) at 13.0kN where a minimum of equal to, or greater than, 5kN is required. Cut Growth (perhaps the most important element when evaluating ruggedness) is only .1mm where equal to, or less than, 4.0mm is the minimum required. This measurement indicates just how fast a 'nick' in the material will grow into a defect (think plastic) that can render the overshoe useless.

Tests also showed that the overall hardness of the 'Slipp-R' at 23 degrees centigrade was measured at 80 with a SATRA guideline of between 60 and 88 for everyday use. You should also know that the 100% rubber material in the 'Slipp-R' does not change significantly with temperature. It will not stiffen, harden or crack in cold temperatures.

I am not aware if test results for other products are available but I do know that PVC is not "more durable than rubber" with respect to ruggedness. In our case we dislike PVC for environmental and health reasons. PVC has excellent chemical resistance (our product is certified “oil, acid and animal fat resistant”) but in situations where intense chemical contact exists more appropriate protection would be recommended.

I should add that due to the low specific density of our material (.91g/cm3) we have been able to design a thick and rugged safety toe protector that is as light as others, even PVC models where overall thickness must be less due to a higher specific gravity.

Our products have been tested at Artech Testing LLC in Virginia and results indicate that the ‘Slipp-R’ “passed ASTM F 2413-05 Performance Requirements for Foot Protection for Class I/75 Impact and Class C/75 Compression.” This indicates that where toe protection is called for minimum OSHA regulations would be met by wearing our safetytoe overshoes.

Our 'Slipp-R's are ‘Canadian made’ which is perhaps something we are the most proud of. We also felt that our product should look as good as possible to encourage use. Too often we hear that PPE gear is rejected because it makes the wearer ‘look silly’. This is also why our colour coding is indicated by a disc on the inside of the overshoe and not outside on the nose of the foot.