Our tips for choosing fishmonger boots

Are you looking for fishmonger boots for your employees, but are unsure which model to choose? Understanding the working environment of those who handle such a specific food product as fish, and therefore the associated risks, will help you make the right choice.

Today, at Shoes For Crews, we want to tell you about the characteristics of the fishmonger profession in order to guide you in purchasing a fundamental part of their work equipment: boots. Follow our experts’ advice!

Characteristics of the fishmonger’s working environment

From receiving raw materials to repackaging goods at the end of the day, including setting up the counter, restocking and waste disposal, fish counter staff work in particular conditions as this is a:

• Wet environment: fishmongers constantly work on wet floors due, on the one hand, to the ice handled to preserve products on the counter, which melts over the hours, and on the other, to the water used to clean fish, work surfaces and floors of scales and other waste produced during gutting.
• Cold environment: in addition to the constant presence of moisture, some fishmonger tasks, such as storing goods in cold rooms and restocking or manually defrosting counters, involve working at sub-zero temperatures or touching cold products.

Occupational risks associated with these working conditions

Although this profession presents other hazards or health consequences for workers, we will focus only on those directly related to the working conditions mentioned above.

1. Risk of slips, trips and falls on the same level: handling ice during restocking or defrosting counters, soiled floors, as well as the constant cleaning of products, work surfaces and floors, considerably increase the risk of slipping or tripping, which accounts for 13% of accidents in this sector.  
2. Electrical risk in a wet environment: electrical installations or scales used in the department expose workers to this type of risk, of which they are not always aware.
3. Risk of falling objects stored at height : poorly stored boxes, bins or sharp tools pose a threat to staff moving around the department and storage areas.

Tips for choosing fishmonger boots

How do you choose the ideal boot model for your fish counter staff so that it provides them with suitable protection? 

1. Choose safety boots

To prevent or reduce the severity of any accident related to these risks, we recommend equipping your employees with safety boots, essential personal protective equipment (PPE) to include in your prevention policy, as explained by Articles L4121-1 et seq. of the French Labour Code.

Safety boots are governed by the EN 20345 standard, which includes several classes covering different levels of protection. Safety boots are mainly marked S4 and S5, with the following requirements: 

• S4 category: S4-rated safety boots must meet the fundamental requirements of the SB category, namely have a slip-resistant sole and a protective toe cap resistant to an impact of 200 Joules and compression of 15 kN. In addition, they must have antistatic properties and energy absorption in the heel area. They must also be entirely made of rubber or polymer and be completely waterproof.
• S5 category: in addition to the characteristics of the S4 class, S5 safety boots also include a puncture-resistant sole.

2. Consider your teams’ comfort

Like other professions in the retail sector, the fishmonger profession requires working standing up for long hours. The chosen model must therefore ensure your employees’ comfort. Choose flexible, reasonably lightweight boots to make moving around easier. Cushioned insoles and a shaft high enough to keep their trousers dry are also aspects to prioritise. Finally, some models provide insulation against the cold, such as our Sentinel boots, which offer protection down to -20º C.

3. Choose fishmonger boots with maximum grip

To ensure maximum grip for your employees’ boots, we recommend choosing S4 or S5 boots labelled SR, an additional requirement that measures the sole’s resistance to slipping on tiled and oily floors.

Not all certified products are equal, so we recommend choosing boots made with slip-resistant soles whose SR test results exceed those required by the standard, as is the case with models from Shoes For Crews, which help to eliminate up to 80% of falls and slips. 

In summary, fishmonger boots must both protect against external hazards while offering flexibility and comfort. After analysing your employees’ working environment and the associated risks, you have the information you need to make an informed choice. As a leading manufacturer of slip-resistant work footwear, we invite you to contact our team of experts, who will make a proposal tailored to your company.