Safety boots with steel toe caps are the industry standard, especially in warehouses and manufacturing plants. They provide excellent protection and are vital in preventing serious accidents. According to the HSE, around 2.9 million working days are lost in the manufacturing sector due to non-fatal injuries and work-related illnesses, resulting in high financial and non-financial costs for companies like yours.
However, as technology changes, it is important to keep up to date. Metal-free safety footwear is popular and is used by many manufacturing companies. But what is the best overall toe cap for industrial workers? The answer may depend on the specific tasks your employees perform.
In this article, Shoes For Crews looks at the benefits of different toecaps and what features to look for. If you are choosing between composite or steel toe boots or upgrading your current footwear, read on to find out more.
Steel toe caps
1. Protection
Steel toecaps offer the best protection against serious injury in the workplace. If there is even the slightest risk of your employees’ toes and feet being crushed while performing their duties, this is the best type of toe cap for safety footwear.
2. Resistance
This type of toe cap can withstand up to 75 pounds of force when dropped from a maximum height of 18 inches. Due to their rigid and shatterproof structure, they are puncture resistant and can protect the wearer from cuts and abrasions.
3. Comfort
The main disadvantage to wearing safety footwear with steel toe caps is that it is the heaviest and bulkiest style on the market. If your workers need to move around and walk short distances during their shift, it is recommended that they do not wear this type of style for several hours at a time. The combination of the weight of these work shoes and the distance covered, could lead to foot fatigue and sore muscles if worn for prolonged periods.
4. Ideal jobs
Steel toe boots can prevent a wide range of injuries, not just those caused by falling objects. This style is best for workers who lift heavy materials and equipment from mostly standing or fixed positions. Production crew, welders, machine operators, assemblers and fabricators as well as technicians are a few of the occupations where steel toecaps would be the best choice.
Composite toe caps
1. Protection
Composite toe caps are a more recent invention and as mentioned above, are becoming increasingly popular. They are particularly well-suited for crews working in extreme weather conditions or on slippery surfaces because they do not heat up or cool down as easily as steel toecaps. However, they still offer the same level of protection as steel without the bulky feel.
2. Resistance
In terms of durability, composite safety footwear can withstand up to 200J of impact. Moreover, their flexible toecap construction and design can return to its original shape after being subjected to a significant force.
3. Comfort
This type of safety shoe is much more comfortable and is preferred when it comes to walking short distances around the factory floor or moving from one machine to another. At Shoes For Crews, our composite toe cap styles do not compromise on quality in order to provide your team with extra comfort. This style is much lighter than steel, in fact, composite toe safety shoes and boots weigh 30% less than their traditional counterparts.
4. Ideal jobs
Industrial workers need a safety shoe that can offer both comfort and protection. Composite toe caps have a lightweight feel due to the manufacturing process they go through. Our safety styles are equipped with removable insoles and extra cushioning to help prevent both injury and offer maximum support. Along with our patented Shoes For Crews slip-resistant outsoles, these are the most important features that you need to consider when selecting the right safety footwear for your employees.
The types of jobs where composite toe caps can help best protect are quality control inspectors, coordinators, supervisors, consultants and various types of engineers who work on site or visit multiple plants.
As you can see, both steel toe and composite toe caps meet the required safety footwear standards when made with high-quality materials. By taking the right steps and making sure your crew have the best possible equipment, you can create a secure, productive working environment for your industrial workers.
To learn more about suitable styles and sizes for your staff, we invite you to contact one of our experts. You can also download our Catalogue for a more detailed look at our different ranges of safety footwear and the specific features they need for their particular job functions.
