Our checklist for choosing women’s professional footwear for food service

Risks of tripping, slipping, same-level falls or falling objects stored at height… According to 2021 figures from the French National Research and Safety Institute for the Prevention of Occupational Accidents and Diseases (INRS), 31% of accidents were caused by falls in the traditional food service sector. How can you address them? 

As you probably know, the French Labour Code requires employers to adopt the necessary preventive measures according to the nature of their company’s activities in order to eliminate any danger or reduce its frequency and severity. These measures include wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) and, in the case that concerns us here, more specifically wearing safety footwear.

Today, to guide you in your choice, Shoes For Crews experts are looking at the selection criteria for women’s professional footwear for food service workers. Want to know what they are? Follow us!

What are women’s professional footwear needs in food service?

When considering the footwear needs of employees in the food service sector, you should first assess their work environment. Since the risks in front-of-house are not the same as those in the kitchen, this distinction should be made when creating our checklist to provide relevant criteria.

Women’s work shoes for front-of-house service

Depending on the style and dress code of your establishment, you will find different footwear suitable for female staff. Sneakers, trainers, overshoes, ballet flats… there are styles to suit every taste. When making your choice, we recommend prioritising the following features:

• Slip-resistant outsoles: select styles that have passed slip-resistance tests on a ceramic floor covered with water and detergent, as well as on a steel floor covered with glycerine.
• Clog-resistant outsoles: some outsoles feature widely spaced traction patterns that limit the amount of debris that can get trapped under the sole.
• Water-resistant outsoles: it is common to work on wet floors, so it is essential to have footwear with water-resistant outsoles to keep feet dry throughout the shift.
• Spill protection: similarly, to protect staff from possible liquid spills, there are shoes featuring spill protection.
• Lightweight: choose lightweight styles that will not hinder your employees in their work. Some roles require prolonged standing, such as bartending, or walking several kilometres at a steady pace during a shift, such as waiting tables. It is therefore essential to choose comfortable styles .

Women’s safety shoes for kitchen work

To prevent accidents in the kitchen, wearing safety shoes is highly recommended. But what are their features?

Marked with the letter “S”, safety shoes comply with EN ISO 20345:2022 which includes several classes covering different levels of protection. Basic safety shoes (SB) are fitted with a protective toe cap resistant to a 200 Joule impact and 15 kN compression, as well as a highly slip-resistant outsole. If you want to provide even more comprehensive protection for your kitchen staff, choose S3 category styles which, in addition to a protective toe cap and slip-resistant outsole, also feature antistatic and heel energy absorption properties, a puncture-resistant midsole and a water-repellent upper. Always make sure that the selected safety class marking appears on the shoes. 

Furthermore, to facilitate compliance with the strict hygiene standards imposed on the food service sector, it may be wise to select lace-free and seam-free safety shoes. Easy to put on, these styles help reduce contamination risks and make footwear easier to clean and maintain.

Finally, criteria such as weight and a water-resistant outsole, mentioned for work shoes, remain just as relevant for kitchen footwear.

Our criteria in checklist form

Now that we have explained our criteria and what they address, we have summarised them in checklists to help you choose women’s professional footwear for your staff more easily. 

Work shoe criteria	Yes	No
Does the shoe have a slip-resistant outsole?
Does the shoe have a clog-resistant outsole?
Does the shoe have a water-resistant outsole?
Does the shoe have spill protection?
Does the shoe have a water-repellent upper?
For greater comfort, is the shoe lightweight?

Safety shoe criteria	Yes	No
Does the shoe have a slip-resistant outsole?
Does the shoe have a clog-resistant outsole?
Does the shoe have a water-resistant outsole?
Does the shoe have a puncture-resistant midsole?
Does the shoe have a protective toe cap?
Does the shoe have a water-repellent upper?
Can the shoe be properly cleaned (no laces or seams)?
For greater comfort, is the shoe lightweight?
Does the shoe have a sole with heel energy absorption properties?
Does the shoe have an antistatic sole?

If you are looking for work or safety shoes for your female employees, we invite you to contact our team of Shoes For Crews experts, who will provide a proposal tailored to your business.