Workplace safety is an absolute priority for all professionals. An essential part of personal protective equipment (PPE) is safety footwear. But how can you be sure that the footwear meets the necessary safety standards for your profession? In this article, we will explain some of the safety standard codes to help you understand what they mean.
1. Certifications and Standards
The first step is to check if your safety footwear has the appropriate certifications.
EN ISO 20344:2011 – Test methods for footwear designed as Personal Protective Equipment.
EN ISO 20345:2011 – Refers to requirements for safety footwear.
Specifications for safety footwear for general use: Footwear with features intended to protect the wearer against injuries that may arise from accidents in the work sectors for which the footwear is designed, equipped with appropriate toe caps to provide protection against impact, with a protection level of 200 Joules.
EN ISO 20347:2012 – Refers to requirements for occupational footwear that does not expose the user to any mechanical risks, such as impact or compression.
Specifications for work footwear: Footwear with features intended to protect the wearer against injuries that may arise from accidents in the work sectors for which the footwear was designed. (They are not equipped with special toe protection.)
ASTM F2413-18 – Safety shoes and boots tested and approved at a voltage of 18000V at 60Hz, for one minute.
2. What the symbols mean
Check whether the footwear offers adequate resistance to the risks present in your work environment. For example, if you work in a place where there is a risk of falling heavy objects, ensure that the footwear has a protective toe cap accordingly. Additionally, check if the footwear has a slip-resistant sole to prevent slips and falls.
You can see all the standards and what they mean here.
Remember that safety at work is fundamental and safety footwear plays a crucial role in your protection. Now you can more easily identify whether the footwear you own or want to buy meets the necessary safety standards.