How to choose the best shoes for working in the food industry?

With estimated revenue of €197.5 billion in 2019 according to the Ministry of Agriculture, the food industry is one of the most important business sectors in France. The more than 16,000 companies in this field employ nearly 437,000 full-time equivalents, a skilled workforce that often faces risks inherent to these jobs. 

While the need to equip employees to protect them from risks is of course obvious, some questions remain. What are the characteristics of the work environments in food industry jobs? What risks do your employees face? And finally, how do you choose the right personal protective equipment ? At Shoes For Crews, we answer your questions in this article, with a particular focus on food industry footwear.

Characteristics of work environments in food industry jobs

Often spanning the entire distribution chain, food industry jobs involve hazardous environments that need to be taken into account :

• Cold environment : many tasks carried out by food industry workers, such as food packaging and meal preparation, involve working in sub-zero temperatures or handling cold products.
• Wet environment : working in cold environments sometimes leads to moisture caused by condensation or frost on frozen foods.

It is important to understand the type of environment in which food industry workers operate in order to prevent the risks they face.

Occupational risks associated with the food industry

By understanding the different work environments in the food industry, it is possible to identify the risks in this sector and then avoid them more effectively. However, here we will focus on the risks that can be avoided through the use of suitable food industry footwear :   

1. Same-level falls : slip and trip hazards, responsible for 11% of all workplace accidents, are present in almost every workplace. Continuous food handling or condensation can sometimes lead to puddles or slippery substances on the floor.
2. Prolonged standing : food industry workers are often required to maintain a static, prolonged standing position that creates risks such as musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) and foot pain.
3. Risks of falling objects from height : items stored at height, such as food cartons or poorly stored sharp tools, can pose a risk to workers moving through these areas.

Facing these risks every day, food industry workers must use suitable equipment to prevent all types of accidents and work safely. While it is of course important to adopt all types of personal protective equipment, here we will address food industry footwear, which will help you prevent these specific risks.

Tips for choosing footwear for the food industry

Here are a few tips to help you choose the right food industry footwear to reduce the risks faced by your employees.

1. Suitable safety shoes

To reduce the risks associated with falling objects from height, we recommend choosing safety shoes that comply with EN 20345, fitted with a protective toe cap resistant to 200 joules of pressure. You can also choose safety boots in category S4 : they feature a slip-resistant sole, a protective toe cap resistant to a 200-joule impact and crushing forces of up to 15 kN. They are also fully waterproof and allow food industry workers to work safely. 

Finally, for tasks involving significant risks, you can select S5-rated safety boots, which retain the characteristics of class S4 while also including a puncture-resistant sole.

2. Comfortable shoes for your employees

As seen above, food industry jobs involve working in cold or wet environments and often require prolonged standing. 

It is therefore important to prioritise your employees’ comfort by choosing essential features such as flexibility and a reasonable weight, while also considering aspects such as a cushioned insole or a high upper to reduce the risk of splashes. It may also be beneficial to choose cold-insulating shoes or waterproof shoes such as our Lungo81 model.

3. Slip-resistant food industry footwear

To reduce the risk of same-level falls, we recommend selecting food industry footwear with the SR label, an additional requirement measuring slip resistance on ceramic and oily floors. This will allow your employees to work safely thanks to footwear with slip-resistant soles. This is the case for the models from Shoes For Crews, which help eliminate up to 80 % of falls and slips. 

All these features should therefore be considered when choosing the best food industry footwear for factory work, allowing your employees to work safely and comfortably with suitable shoes. 

You now have all the information you need to make your choice, and we invite you to contact our team of experts at Shoes For Crews, a leading manufacturer of slip-resistant work shoes, who will help you meet the specific needs of your employees to ensure their safety and comfort.