Canadian Occupational Safety

FEBRUARY/MARCH 2018 19 it's important to size for the larger of the two feet. At Red Wing Shoes, associates use a 3D imaging machine for sizing because it provides an even more accurate picture of the customer's foot length and width, says David Greulich, Canada region director for Red Wing in Waterloo, Ont. "Even myself, I started selling shoes in 1990 and for the longest time, I went to a shoe store and the guy fitted me to an 11 triple E. But when I started at Red Wing five years ago, I went on the (3D imag- ing) machine and it showed I was 13D," he says. "The shoes fit snuggly around my foot and offer support both laterally and all over. It kind of encapsulates the foot like a glove." When trying on footwear, there should be at least a thumb's width from the big toe to the end of the shoe. The worker should be able to put his index finger down the back of the boot when standing comfortably to ensure the boot is not too tight. Workers should look for padded lining and a firm sole that will pro- vide stability. "Try it on. Wear the boot around a little bit. If you're feeling pinching or rubbing, especially on the steel toe cap, then this boot is not fitting you properly," says Sonnema. "Regardless of the price, don't buy it." He also encourages workers to lace the boot up properly when tr ying them on at the store — an important piece that is often neglected. It's also important to go shopping at the end of the day because the foot will swell throughout the day. Workers might find a boot fits great in the morning but it could be quite tight by the end of the shift. According to the Government of Canada's Protect Your Feet! docu- ment, an individual must not feel any uncomfortable pressure once the shoes are tied or fastened. Models that are too narrow or have toe caps that are too low should be avoided. "If you can feel the toe caps with your toes, wearing your shoes will become unbearable after a certain amount of time," the document says. It also recommends buying work shoes and boots that have little or no decorative strips or seams as they may bother the wearer over time. Wearing the right socks at the time of a fitting is also important. Workers should wear the same kind that they wear on the job, says Hampton. Unlike street shoes that can some- times stretch a bit, with safety boots, what you see is what you get. "Safety boots are not very forgiv- able. If you've got a rigid toe cap, you're just not going to get that forgiv- ingness out of them," says Sonnema. "If it doesn't fit in the store, it's not going to fit on the job site." Work boots that fit properly are not only going to be more comfortable for the worker, they will last longer, says Greulich. "If your foot is loose inside the shoe, if it's too long, your heel is going to slip, you'll get blisters in the back of your shoe. You're going to wear through that heel counter and your shoes will wear out prematurely and you'll be uncomfortable in the pro- cess," he says. "Getting that proper fit is the critical piece to comfort, longevity, durability and safety, for that matter." COMFORT CONSIDERATIONS It's important that employees consider the temperatures they will be working in when selecting a work boot. They may need boots with insulation, such as Thermolite or Thinsulate, if work- ing in the extreme cold. Depending on the nature of the job, workers may require heavier boots in the winter and lighter shoes in the spring and summer. Breathability is another consider- ation. A moisture-wicking lining will take moisture away from the foot. "That is important especially if you're doing something very physi- cal and you're moving around a lot or you work in an environment that's a lot warmer," says Hampton. "There's nothing worse than having feet that are sweaty and you can feel it while you're working; it's just a horrible feeling and it's a distraction." According to Protect Your Feet!, work shoes without breathabil- ity cause the foot temperature to increase and soften or swell the skin. This creates an environment that promotes the development of micro-organisms and the forming of cracks and blisters. The government recommends a boot made of lightly finished full-grain leather (the classic yellow leather) as it is very perme- able to perspiration. It also cautions against synthetic leather (known as poromer) because it does not allow air to flow. A lot of athletic safety shoes have lining made of breathable mesh and some leather boots have Gore- tex linings, which breathe well, says Hampton. Socks play an important role in breathability and workers should wear those with moisture-wicking proper- ties, such as merino wool blended with nylon and acrylic, says Greulich. As a side note, if improper socks are worn, athlete's foot can develop — a common fungal infection of the skin and nails which usually results in itching, scaling, redness and the formation of small blisters. The weight of the safety boot is also something to consider, although they are much lighter now than years ago. According to Protect Your Feet!, a good pair of shoes should not weigh more than 1,300 grams. "They're not like 20 years ago with cement on your feet. Not at all. Some are designed for maximum protec- tion so they are going to have more weight behind them," says Hampton. "In general, there are good options that have different weights to them so someone will find one they are comfortable with." It's important to take job tasks into consideration because a worker may need a safety shoe that allows him to be more agile, says Hampton. For example, jobs that regularly involve kneeling down, such as welders and roofers, need a shoe that has good flexibility. "Are you just standing all day or are you moving a lot like in a warehouse? Do you have to be very nimble and get around? All those things affect how we define what would be comfortable for what you're doing," Hampton says. "Work boots that are meant to really protect your feel are not going to be great if you have to dodge and weave around a warehouse; you need something much more flexible." The surface the worker is work- ing on can also impact what boot she chooses, from a comfort stand- point. For example, if she is standing Save Lives. Improve Productivity. Cut Costs. The world leader in lockout/tagout products and services, Brady offers a broad range of innovative products & solutions for optimum safety, effi ciency and compliance. Visit us at BradyCanada.ca for more products! Be Productive. Be Safe. Be Compliant.

• Cover