Sharing Footwear - Urban Myth Or Unhealthy Practice?

Evidence exists that in the energy production industry employees and visitors alike are expected to step into old boots.

This is the sole verification of what I had suspected was happening. Previously I had only anecdotal accounts of the practice. Sort of like an urban myth. Apparently, when accessing a 'safety zone' every entrant is expected to pick through a selection of old safety boots. Usually there is a close enough fit available but if not, loose-fitting boots apparently are not a big concern. Oddly enough, perhaps because time spent in the safety zone is expected to be short and free of hazards, a loose-fitting boot is not considered a risk.

That being the case, I fail to understand the merits of such a culture. If the risks are minimal, why insist on a full safety boot? To make matters worse, the boots are loaded with features not required at all in the circumstances. Protection from electrical shock for example is only likely to be of benefit to those in close contact with live wires. It seems to me this is expensive over-kill for the occasional visit to a safety zone.

Furthermore, I wonder where the inventory of old boots comes from? Are they cast-offs from employees who have abandoned them or are they purchased for the purpose of lending out? Regardless, the whole idea is fraught with unpleasant images conjured up by the sharing of used footwear. It seems, in this one organisation anyway, there is no discomfort when visitors are invited to pick their temporary old boot. I suspect that the shock of being refused admission is greater than the uninviting prospect of stepping into somebody's old shoes.

There are a number of hygiene and podiatry issues associated with this policy.

The law requires that risk of injury be considered when implementing any safety program. Depending on the degree of risk it may be prudent to provide adequate PPE and to insist that any recommendation of protective equipment be mandatory. It's the safest way out given our litigious society. However, just how civilised or enlightened is it to ask workers and visitors to share footwear? The thought of it brings the risk of foot diseases, warts and verrucae to my mind. From an employee perspective such a policy could easily be considered unreasonable. The issue of sanitization is enough to put me off the whole idea.

According to Robert Shaw, M.Sc D.Pod M MCh.S, podiatrist to Diageo’s Kilmarnock whisky bottling and distribution plants in Scotland, there are some important considerations to be concerned about sharing footwear, industrial or otherwise. He agrees hygiene wise the main concern would be cross infection of pathogens. However, there may be other serious consequences. Since old boots have been pre-formed by a previous user, pressure points can arise. These pressure points are most likely to occur behind toe caps. Crease marks or flexion marks differ from person to person and can lead to friction on the upper of the foot. The much respected West of Scotland chiropodist advises those suffering from diabetes, or other systematic disorders, to be very careful. Poorly fitting boots can lead to ulceration and diabetics are prone to foot infections in general. Comfort and fit are of vital importance to a diabetic.

In this particular instance the employer is obviously rich. Not every employer can afford to provide employees with fully-loaded safety boots at no cost to them. To the employer's credit, these 'Cadillacs' of safety footwear are provided with a lot of personal choice. Fit is not usually a problem. The only company requirement is that the full range of safety features are embodied in the footwear. Unfortunately, admirable as that appears, this unusually rich cost finds its way into the cost of the product supplied to the consumer and the boot cast-offs end up as enforceable safety PPE. In this case, it would be the cost of electricity. This means that the extravagant cost finds its way into the price of all manufactures since electricity is a component cost of all goods sold. Makes you wonder if an 'old safety boots' policy is a good idea after all?

I think its time for employers to re-evaluate safety policies that insist on full safety boots where the risk assessment indicates only toe protection is necessary. Such a practice would be less wasteful economically and I happen to think it would be a whole lot more hospitable and healthy.

The 'Slipp-R' safety overshoe is made of sturdy rubber material with a steel toe cap providing similar or greater toe protection than the minimum required by international safety standards bodies. A 'Slipp-R' safety overshoe stretches tightly over outer shoes. It is easy to pull on and is transferable between users with no hygiene or health risks. 'Slipp-R' safety overshoes cost a lot less than a safety boot. It is PVC-Free, the protective toe cap is covered and coloured discs on the inside sole indicate the seven sizes. The 'Slipp-R' is acid, oil and animal fat resistant with anti-slip qualities.

Safetytoes International Inc of Toronto Takes the PVC-Free Pledge

The NEC convention is the largest of its kind on the North American continent. Patrick Smyth, CEO, said "We needed to be there if we are ever to raise awareness for steel toe overshoes. Our 'Slipp-R' was the only example of these versatile and cost-effective items of safety apparel." The 'Slipp-R', a closed toe safety overshoe which was launched in October 2006 was rewarded with a two page feature article in the show edition of the "Occupational, Health and Safety" magazine. The editor of the magazine, Jerry Laws, had never seen an article on the specific topic of steel toe overshoes and he felt an overview would be of great service to his readership.

"Naturally, we were delighted to receive such prominence in such a prestigious publication and at such an influential convention," Smyth admitted, "but when we discovered that PVC-Free products were being embraced by PPE manufacturers and end-users we were even more thrilled." The 'Slipp-R' is PVC-Free. "We use a vulcanized rubber material for our 'Slipp-R', which is made in Canada."

Many of the world's major corporations have adopted PVC-Free policies. Market leaders such as Apple, Ford, GM, J&J, Microsoft, Nestle, P&G, Sony and Volvo have taken a stand against the use of PVC. Industries and governments are making a global commitment to environmentally preferred purchasing programs. "Companies who have taken the PVC-Free pledge will no doubt be looking closely at the 'Slipp-R'", the CEO of Safetytoes International said upon his return from Chicago. "These products have been slow to gain acceptance due to a lack of marketing efforts and subsequent lack of awareness for their suitability in any situation where toe protection is necessary." The'Slipp-R' meets or exceeds all the minimum toe protection standards required by OSHA, CSA and CE.

Safetytoes International Inc., has devoted many resources to promote the use of its 'Slipp-R'. "Our safetytoes blog has been responsible for a much improved situation with respect those occasions in the industrial world when a product like the 'Slipp-R' can provide as much toe protection as a full safety shoe but at a much lower cost. The 'Slipp-R' is a robust piece of PPE that can withstand harsh environments. The 'Slipp-R' has many quality features not found in other steel toe overshoes and it's great to see the PVC-Free aspect being recognized as well."

The 'Slipp-R' is distributed throughout the world with master distributors in Europe and North America.

Protect Your Piggies Alternative Toe Protection For Diabetics

Rubber galoshes with steel toecaps not only protect vital body parts but come with some safety features lost long ago with the demise of the original rubber galosh. Once a familiar sight around the home and office, rubber galoshes were 'de rigueur' barely a generation ago. Back then; this unique piece of attire was used solely for protecting shoes. Fortunately, the rubber material also had some inherent safety features, much sought after today - if not so highly valued then.

Slips account for a large percentage of accidents. Until the collection and reporting of data became a force in the medical field, many accidents were classified according to the injured area or body part. The cause of these accidents would be due to a "slip and a subsequent fall". This is why the rubber galoshes of yesteryear were not viewed as items with safety features. Rather, they were considered pieces of clothing. The fact that the rubber gave good grip and helped create a solid footing went unappreciated.

The SLIPP-R brand of safety toes fit snuggly over the toe area of outer shoes. The galosh itself is made of a 100% rubber material and it has some other neat safety features. The concept and design were inspired by curlers on ice rinks who always need to sweep, stop and sweep. But not all surfaces are icy and these steel toe overshoes also deliver good grip underfoot in snow, rain and mud.

SLIPP-Rs for toe protection should be of interest to any diabetic who is active around the house and garden. According to a recent survey, about 86,000 lower limbs are amputated annually due to complications from diabetes. To a diabetic, the big toe is an extremely vulnerable body part with some very unfortunate consequences if damaged. Advice recommending occasional toe protection should be included with suggestions to wear thick socks, to cut toenails straight across, to exercise and always get the best fitting comfortable shoes. Shoes are of supreme importance to diabetes sufferers because poorly fitted shoes are involved in as many as half of the problems that lead to amputations.

Our ability to use our feet safely, with ease and comfort, is vital if we are to remain active and efficient at work and play. Our customers report many uses for our SLIPP-Rs around the house and at the office. The sturdy steel toe cap is stylish, light and covered. Qualities that encourage regular use which is so important for a safety culture.

SLIPP-R safety toes are direct descendants of the original rubber galosh. The original was invented by an African-American by the name of Alvin Longo Rickman, who received a patent for an overshoe in 1898. The move to vulcanized rubber was invented by Charles Goodyear in the 20th century.

So, keep the tradition and spread the word. Slips and falls are dangerous. SLIPP-R steel toe safety overshoes are good for you.

Protect your piggies!

HOW TO TOE THE LINE AND HELP FOOT THE BILL FOR SAFETY COSTS.

Economising on safety costs is something few would argue with either. So, here's a safety alternative you should know about.

Rubber safety overshoes - ' shoes with toes' - are getting more attention, for more reasons than simply cost-effectiveness. And not just because of the ever increasing numbers of temporary workers employed in this country. It's the ever increasing cost of providing fully-loaded temporary safety shoes that's bringing the whole matter of toe protection to the attention of senior management. The recent challenge by the United States Postal Service and OSHA's ruling attests to that. Anywhere a safety shoe alternative exists, that sits all right with OSHA in the USA or CCOHS in Canada, it's a win-win situation.

There’s not a thing wrong with generally accepted safety toe footwear, but all too often it seems the expensive choice is selected out of fear or a lack of understanding. Although it's true to say safety shoe policies in manufacturing have embraced rubber pull on safety toe cap products for visitors they have been 'missing in action' elsewhere. I know of one particular food processing plant that refuses to use a '”better than those yellow clacker things” solution, but tolerates gunk that might be introduced to the production floor on the soles of visitors' shoes. Their thinking is they had better address the greasy floors than more effectively provide toe protection. Some might argue the greasy floor is a hazard that should not be tolerated.

All workplaces are subject to statutory requirements and minimum standards that reflect our desire to protect workers. It is up to the employer to implement safety rules and regulations but bodies such as OSHA allows significant latitude in doing so, provided choices are reasonable and done responsibly. Careful attention is required as errors in judgement, as with willful neglect, will be punished under the law. Unfortunately, the tendency in a fear and compliance atmosphere is to avoid failure rather than attempt success. Compliance is commendable but can instill fear. That can stifle creativity which can result in unnecessarily high costs.

Take the whole matter of safety footwear. Company safety policies that lack creativity can result in over-spending far in excess of the typical fine for a safety transgression. It's a bit like this; we know there's always the possibility of rain but do we need to wear a raincoat every day? Or, would a small umbrella, costing a lot less than a raincoat, do the job just as well? Throw in the ability to offer others shelter if the need arises and you get the idea.

An employer is required to provide personal protective equipment where the risk assessment indicates as much. Risk assessment is the cornerstone of industrial safety and statutory bodies require employers to undertake one to determine what hazards can reasonably be expected in any particular working environment. There is always the chance of accident but risk assessments are not expected to be clairvoyant. They are expected to review routine operations and recommend the proper Personal Protective Equipment. (The employer is also expected to pay for it.) Risk assessments are expected to be 'reasonable' and the onus is on OSHA to prove otherwise.

There are two important things to remember. Firstly, it is the employer who decides how best to comply with the law. Secondly, organizations like OSHA do not mandate any particular piece of equipment to be used.

In the case of foot safety, OSHA’s occupational foot protection standard is 29 CFR 1910.136. This requires the use of protective footwear when employees are working in areas where there is a danger of foot injuries due to falling or rolling objects. Once that hazard has been determined, OSHA does not recommend, or approve of, any particular safety footwear. According to OSHA in a recent letter to the United States Postal Service, an employer may comply with the criteria set forth in ANSI Z41-1991, replaced by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) F2412-05 and ASTM F2413-05, or the employer may opt to demonstrate that other criteria are equally effective. If the employer pursues the second option, then compliance with the consensus standards is not mandatory. This means, the burden lies on the employer to demonstrate that the footwear provided is equally as protective as the footwear that meet the ASTM F2412-05 and the ASTM F2413-05 standards.

In another fairly recent ruling, OSHA declined to comment on the suitability of the now ubiquitous ‘Croc’ clogs. It said, in situations where no hazard exists, the matter of appropriate footwear at work is between the employer and employee. This principle was reiterated when OSHA was asked to comment on rubber over-shoes. OSHA was firm in stating that it does not find rubber overshoes acceptable where they provide no toe protection. However, provided they can demonstrate that they meet minimum standards they are acceptable.

What then would be “acceptable foot protection” where there is a chance of toe injury? The first choice of many employers is ASTM or CSA tagged safety shoes or boots - the so called "approved" footwear we hear so much about in advertising. For sure, a fully loaded safety shoe or boot will provide more than enough legal defence in the event of a challenge from OSHA. What is also true is that such a policy comes at a very high cost. Not every employee requires safety toecap, steel-soled, electricity dissipative footwear. For many work situations only toe protection from falling or rolling heavy objects is required. Is it wise then to incur the full cost of a safety shoe or boot?

For example, an office worker visiting a loading dock to pick up documents will not perform any manufacturing duties while en route. This might imply that the PPE provided to the workers may not be necessary for the office worker. However, since the office worker might be exposed to falling objects, or in close proximity to heavy moving equipment, it would be reasonable to foresee only the need for toe protection against impact and compression.

In another situation a risk assessment for the production area might indicate the need for slip resistant footwear and toe protection. However, it is also reasonable to expect that a visiting office worker might not encounter slippery conditions. Furthermore, such conditions are not supposed to persist and it might be reasonable to expect the office worker to take reasonable evasive action to avoid the risk should it occur.

The danger from sharp objects underfoot requires steel sole protective footwear but where no such risk is anticipated toe protection may be all that is required. A good example would be the paper-making and the newspaper print production industry, where there is little chance of sharp objects but always a chance of rolling stock or heavy moving equipment that can injure toes. Having steel sole shoes or boots that can dissipate electrical shock is just over-kill and costly.

Rubber safetytoe overshoes provide the same protection from impact and compression as safety shoes and boots. The steel toecap meets the same ASTM standards and can easily be verified by test results from the major testing bodies. This is what makes OSHA happy. Rubber has been used for a long time in the safety footwear industry and its slip resistance qualities are well known. The rubber material is flexible but sturdy, in some cases as thick as 6mm resulting in a firm fit and some long wearing characteristics. Rubber safetytoe overshoes are a lot less expensive than safety shoes or boots and they eliminate the hazard of passing along unsanitary footwear. They are especially useful where only occasional toe protection is required, such as with visitors to production facilities, temporary workers and for medical reasons.

Safety personnel looking for budget savings, as in today’s economy, would be well advised to consider them for these reasons and more.

THE MAGIC OF SAFETYTOES

My "Moroccans" are great little shoes I found in the souk in Marrakesh. They're called babouches in Morocco and they look like they were designed especially for the Moroccan climate and culture. The heel portion of the babouche folds down to allow rear entry slip-on slip-off. This is especially handy for their many visits to mosques but handy too for keeping floors clean inside their riads and homes.
And that's the main attraction for me. At first I was attracted to their smashing bright colours and I have a number of them for that reason, but these babouches mean I can have a pair for indoor use and a pair for short trips outside. Things like taking out the garbage or putting our cars into the driveway at night. I can slip out of my indoor footwear, slip on my babouches, take care of business and leave the rain and dirt outside when I return.

Babouches are made of leather with a foam or rubber sole. They're not the most sturdy of footwear but they seem to take a lot of beating. I've only worn out one pair in over two years, and I use them constantly. I even wear my orthotics in them with never a problem.

Now that the snow and ice is upon us I decided to try them out with my rubber safetytoes. I have to report they are perfect for the job. Since the sole of the babouche is made of a stiff material that protrudes beyond the stitching in the leather upper, I find that they fit very snugly inside my small size safetytoe overshoes. There's no movement at all when wearing them. I've now found it is very easy to simply slip my steel toe overshoes over my babouches and go outside. I don't even have to change my babouches which is a bonus over the other times of the year. Currently though, I'm trying leaving my babouches in my small size safetytoes. That way, if I have to go outside, I slip into my "outdoor moroccans" and venture out knowing that I will be warm, slip resistant and waterproof. I don't even have to worry about toe protection.

Altogether, this makes movement from inside to outside and back again much less of a struggle and mess at places like back doorways and mud rooms. Living with winter conditions in Toronto just got a whole lot better.

Safetytoes International Inc., of Toronto, Canada, Makes First Sale to China

Toronto, Canada -- Since launching their 'Slipp-R' brand of safety toe overshoes in October 2006, Safetytoes International Inc., has been selling their unique products all over the world. However, it is the sale to China that makes Patrick Smyth, company founder, most pleased.

"We decided to make our 'Slipp-R's in Canada at a time when North American industry was out-sourcing to China and Mexico." Smyth was adamant that manufacturing jobs should not be transferred overseas. "Our first order to China is a small one but it shows how our 'Slipp-R' safety toe is unique. And, we've already sold into Mexico!"

Companies all over the world have been showing a keen interest in the 'Slipp-R'. "We have been focused on the EU countries but word is spreading." Smyth says, "Our viral marketing is working. When we sell to a multi-national company in Belgium we get interest from South Africa! That's how we have been growing."

The 'Slipp-R' safety toe overshoe is made of vulcanized rubber and is worn mostly by visitors to industrial plants. The sturdy overshoe can be passed from person to person avoiding expensive or unpleasant alternatives. "The unfortunate thing about safety in the workplace is that not everybody likes to wear the proper gear. Sometimes it is too bulky or maybe just too ugly looking. Most of us appreciate looking good which is why we made the 'Slipp-R' so stylish." The founder of

the one-product company used Italian designers and the best of materials to promote toe protection at work and at home.

Of particular interest to food processing companies, the 'Slipp-R' safetytoe isolates germs and bacteria brought in by visitors' street shoes. Wherever toe protection is required the steel toe cap in the 'Slipp-R' is considered more than adequate. Generally toes needs to be protected from impact and compression to a minimum standard that is exceeded by the 'Slipp-R'. Tests done to gain the CE Approval for Europe show that the steel toe cap provides double the minimum toe protection. In North America tests done to compare against OSHA and CSA standards show that the 'Slipp-R' exceeds minimum requirements. The 'Slipp-R' has anti-slip qualities and is acid, oil and animal resistant. The unique design allows for ease of use and looks more like a piece of dress wear than industrial wear.

IN THE BLINK OF AN EYE, YOU CAN LOSE A TOE

Accounts of lawnmower accidents attest to how quickly disaster strikes. Not surprising when you think how fast a lawnmower blade rotates. (100 to 190 MPH, actually)

A review of relevant internet sites affords much good advice on safety around the home and garden but many neglect to mention the wisdom of safetytoe protection. Where suggestions on toe protection do appear, safety boots are recommended. This is great advice but how likely are readers to heed it?

The safety boot is expensive. It has a guarantee period of around 90 days. You can’t easily share a boot with a stranger. Often, it comes with features we don’t always need - like protection from electrical shock.

When compared to a number of safetytoe products available from industrial safety catalogues the safety boot is kicked out of the game. For the price of a single pair of safety boots, two or three pairs of safetytoes can be bought, giving toe protection for all the family.

Safetytoes are the direct descendants of the rubber galosh of bygone days. Within the past 30 years rubber galoshes were commonplace around the home. Always made of rubber, they protected our “good shoes” against rain, snow and salt.

Today there are a few safetytoe products available to gardeners and DIY types. For slip protection, those made of a rubber-based material are recommended. The steel toes in all these products are rated for the same level of toe impact - so style, fit and ease of use are important factors. Some have varying degrees of protection from acid, oil and animal fats, which can be important features in certain kitchen and workshop/garage situations.

Check them out. Safetytoes now make it easier than ever to return to better protection for our feet as well as keeping our “shoes good”. Some of the new safetytoes are an inexpensive way to protect something way more valuable than a pair of “good shoes”.