Find the Perfect Metal-Free Safety Shoes from Shoes For Crews

Work in manufacturing and industry places high demands on employees’ physical resilience. Assembly-line work, shift work and an unavoidable amount of repetitive movements put strain on the body – long working hours and mental fatigue caused by monotony increase the risk of accidents. This is also demonstrated by the statistics on occupational accidents published by the German Social Accident Insurance: in 2022, 183,352 reportable occupational accidents were recorded for the manufacturing industry/production of goods (see p. 30). This corresponds to 27.9% of all occupational accidents across industries! Preventive measures are therefore a worthwhile investment to avoid follow-up costs caused by accidents. This does not have to be expensive: an ergonomic workplace design, combined with equipping staff with appropriate workwear, can make a major contribution to protecting your employees. At Shoes For Crews, we are here to help and today present our metal-free safety shoes.

Prioritise movement  

The greatest challenge for the human body in manufacturing and industry is monotonous movement, which should be reduced to a minimum. Since the nature of productive work means this is only possible to a certain extent, other solutions must be found. The employers’ liability insurance association provides specific measures that can help you design the workplace. The most important and most cost-effective measure is to alternate between standing and sitting. The benefits at a glance: regularly switching between sitting and standing helps with

• preventing muscle inactivity, tension and postural monotony 
• activating the cardiovascular and autonomic systems
• and developing a more dynamic and efficient working style.

In addition, the employers’ liability insurance association recommends certain threshold values that should ideally be observed, namely a maximum of:

• 2 hours of continuous sitting
• 1 hour of uninterrupted standing

The fact that these guidelines cannot necessarily be observed in everyday working life is due to the nature of the operation and the goods being produced. Read on to find out more about the other ways you can protect your staff.

Standing for long periods at work

Depending on the type of operation, recommended values for standing can be significantly exceeded. We have already described elsewhere the dangers this can involve: cardiovascular problems (varicose veins, venous thrombosis, etc.), back problems and painful, swollen feet are common consequences. It is important to provide suitable footwear with the necessary cushioning. Toe caps are also a mandatory safety measure in manufacturing and industry to prevent injuries. At Shoes For Crews, we have been focusing intensively on slip-resistant work and safety shoes for 40 years and have developed a versatile range that meets these exact requirements.  

Our range of metal-free safety shoes for manufacturing and industry

We continuously develop innovative solutions to improve the comfort of our shoes, so your employees stay protected and can reach their full potential. Metal-free safety shoes are a cornerstone of this development. Under current legislation, work footwear is only considered “safety footwear” if it has a toe cap that must withstand a force of at least 200 joules. Traditionally, toe caps were made from steel because the material is inexpensive and robust. However, steel toe caps also significantly increase a shoe’s weight, which noticeably reduces wearing comfort. For this reason, we would like to introduce three of our excellent models featuring toe caps made from composite material. This is plastic reinforced with fibres and able to withstand the same force of 200 joules. Another positive effect is that plastic absorbs significantly less cold, if any, helping to maintain a more comfortable temperature inside the shoe – especially in winter. Below, discover the details of our selection, which also includes two stylish models from our new collaboration with PUMA® Safety .

Bergamo

Made in Italy, the Bergamo is a unisex model available in sizes 36-47 and compliant with the EN ISO 20345:2022 [S3L ESD HRO FO SR] standard. Its benefits at a glance:

• Removable, padded insole
• Energy-absorbing heel construction
• Composite toe cap – 200 joules
• Penetration-resistant
• Waterproof mesh upper
• Metal-free
• Antistatic
• Fuel-resistant
• Weight per shoe: 615 grams (size 42)

Frontside 

The Frontside combines our latest, easy-to-clean outsoles and state-of-the-art technology with PUMA® Safety’s classic, sporty design. The unisex model is available in two colours, blue and brown/grey, as well as in sizes 36-48, and complies with EN ISO 20345:2022 [S1PS ESD FO HRO SR]. Its details at a glance:

• Comfort footbed
• Shock-absorbing IDCell element 
• Composite toe cap – 200 joules
• Penetration-resistant
• Breathable
• Microfibre upper
• Heat-resistant up to 300 °C
• Dirt-resistant outsole
• Metal-free
• Weight per shoe: 560 grams (size 43)

Airtwist

Another model from our new collaboration is the Airtwist, which is also available as a unisex model in sizes 36-48. It complies with the EN ISO 20345:2022 [S3S ESD FO HRO SR] standard and has the following features:

• Comfort footbed
• Shock-absorbing IDCell element
• Composite toe cap – 200 joules
• Penetration-resistant
• Breathable
• Microfibre upper
• Heat-resistant up to 300 °C
• Dirt-resistant outsole
• Metal-free
• Weight per shoe: 580 grams (size 43)

Have you already found a model that meets your requirements? Contact us today and we will discuss everything with you personally. We will also be happy to advise you on our other metal-free models, so you can offer your employees the best possible protection and wearing comfort.