Reusable Overshoes: Advantages and Disadvantages

Overshoes are an accessory used to fully or partially cover workers’ footwear. Disposable versions are available, but there are also washable reusable overshoes that can add or enhance certain safety features of work shoes. In the restaurant and retail sectors in particular, employees are versatile and carry out a wide range of tasks that require specific protection criteria. While reusable overshoes can prove useful, it is important to understand their advantages and disadvantages in order to equip your employees as effectively as possible.

Advantages of reusable overshoes

Choosing footwear suited to your type of activity is essential, as every working environment comes with its own specific physical risks. This is why adding reusable overshoes can offer certain benefits :

• Water resistance : if your employees do not have waterproof footwear but need to carry out certain tasks in wet conditions, water-resistant overshoes will protect them against splashes. For example, this accessory can prove useful in restaurant and retail jobs for cleaning tasks involving the handling of chemicals and water.
• Slip protection : non-slip reusable overshoes provide additional protection against slips. If your employees need to work on greasy floors, this type of overshoe can considerably reduce the risk of same-level falls. Our CrewGuard® Stretch model features an SFC Mighty Grip slip-resistant outsole that provides maximum protection against slips and falls, and complies with EN ISO 20347:2012.
• Puncture protection : overshoes with puncture protection will protect not only footwear, but also your employees’ feet. Consider them for work environments involving the handling of sharp objects.
• Protective toe cap : if your employees sometimes need to handle heavy objects and their footwear does not have protective toe caps, choosing overshoes with this feature reduces the risk of foot crushing if these objects fall. For example, consider our CrewGuard® Safety model which, in addition to meeting water-resistance and slip-protection criteria, features a steel toe cap. This model meets the requirements of EN ISO 20345:2011.
• Cost-effective solution : overshoes, which are often very flexible, fit a wide range of footwear types (trainers, smart shoes, boots) and are a cost-effective solution for enhancing certain footwear properties (including the points mentioned above). 
• Easy care : reusable rubber overshoes are easy to maintain and help protect footwear that requires more meticulous care.

Disadvantages of reusable overshoes

Although reusable overshoes offer a number of advantages, it is also important to understand their limitations. Here are some disadvantages of this accessory :

• Limited protection : unlike work shoes, reusable overshoes do not protect the entire foot. This is why it is essential to provide your employees with footwear suited to their activities and use overshoes to provide additional protection for specific tasks.
• Additional weight : although reusable overshoes are generally very lightweight, they add extra weight to footwear. This added weight can be uncomfortable for your employees and increase muscle fatigue.
• Incomplete : although they are a useful addition to professional footwear, they do not replace work shoes. It is essential to equip your employees with footwear suited to their various activities. Reusable overshoes cannot replace genuine work or safety shoes.

Choosing reusable overshoes with Shoes For Crews

As with the choice of uniforms, equipment and footwear for your employees, it is important to understand their safety and workplace well-being needs : used as a complement to suitable footwear, reusable overshoes are a useful accessory.

Now that you know the main advantages and disadvantages of reusable overshoes, all that remains is to determine which criteria they should meet according to your employees’ activities. Do not hesitate to contact our Shoes For Crews team of experts, who will be able to advise you in your approach.