Did you know that almost one in ten work accidents are foot injuries?
Despite the existence of strict labor standards for safety equipment, many accidents happen each year. The risks and types of accidents vary between the different industries, but safety at work must remain an everyday concern.
The key to better understand safety issues? Learn about short- and long-term risks.
Extremities are usually more vulnerable to those risks, and we often forget about our feet as they are out of view.
Consequences related to foot injuries are just as numerous as the risks: strains, sprains, rheumatism, fractures, lacerations, feet/toes shredded or severed, crushed feet, amputation, electric shocks, burns, electrocution.
The chart below illustrates that risks emerge from sources that are sometimes unexpected. It is, however, possible to be adequately protected thanks to a good analysis of the work environment or situation.
| Industry | Risks of Incident and/or Accident |
|---|---|
| Transportation and Storage | • Heavy objects falling on the foot • Sharp-edged or blunt objects on the ground • Foot struck or crushed by a moving vehicle • Falls |
| Welding | • Molten metal splatter • Contact with welding arcs • Burning objects that fall or come in contact with the feet • Heavy objects falling on the foot |
| Food Processing | • Feet pulled in sharp machines • Sharp-edged objects on the ground • Heavy objects falling on the foot • Slippery surfaces |
| Concrete and Cement Industry | • Heavy objects falling on the foot • Foot struck or crushed by a moving vehicle • Spraining the foot on irregular ground • Irritations which can lead to burns |
| Mining and Hydrocarbons | • Static electricity • Burning surfaces or objects on the ground • Spraining the foot on irregular ground • Falls • Heavy objects falling on the foot • Chemical spills |
| Forestry | • Heavy objects falling on the foot • Sharp-edged or blunt objects on the ground • Foot struck or crushed by a moving vehicle • Falls • Spraining the foot on irregular ground • Animal bites • Cutting machinery: chainsaws, lawnmowers |
| Emergency Services and Firefighting | • Extremely hot and/or cold surfaces • Contact with fire, explosive atmosphere • Spraining the foot on uneven or rugged ground • Heavy objects collapsing on the foot • Sharp-edged or blunt objects on the ground • Cutting Machinery (vehicle extrication) • Falls: cluttered alleys, bad lighting, |
HOW CAN A WORK BOOT PROTECT ME?
To start, take into account your environment and the risks involved when choosing safety footwear.
Safety footwear that does not protect from the whole range of the risks associated with an activity may provide inadequate protection, causing problems or injuries, aggravating existing ailments, and thereby increasing the risk of an accident.
When the time comes to talk about safety boots, we immediately think of steel toes, which were the first improvement to be used in protective footwear. Quickly, workers realized that while their toes were protected, other areas, such as the top of the foot, remained vulnerable.
Fortunately, constantly evolving technologies and innovations can be found in personal protective equipment.
Also, safety standards improve to ensure maximum protection, which is a good thing.
What are the innovations? Continuous improvements such as an anti-puncture midsole to protect the sole or sturdy metatarsal protectors that are comfortable to wear to protect the top of the foot.
The sources of danger that are generally perceived include objects which can pierce, strike and/or fall on the foot. However, inadequate ankle support can also be a hazard; an ankle can sprain without any physical trigger element.
Any scenario is possible, which is why we should consider these situations to prevent a wide range of incidents and accidents.
METATECH TECHNOLOGY: SAFE AND COMFORTABLE 360° METATARSAL PROTECTION
Metatarsal protection doesn’t have to come automatically with discomfort or bulkiness, as was the case in the past. Fortunately, technological advances are changing these prejudices based on experience.
External metatarsal protections, well known in the industry, offer good shielding but can be cumbersome, and they don’t protect the sides of the foot.
On the other hand, most of the internal metatarsal protection, even though they comply with CSA standards, is made of flexible materials that do not offer the same level of protection as the external rigid versions. They also do not protect the sides of the foot.
Which one offers the best protection?
For even better worker protection, STC has developed a met guard protection unique on the market.
The STC Team has designed the Metatech 360° technology, offering this protective system provides an internal rigid metatarsal safety feature without being bulky and protects the sides of the foot. The top and side of the feet are protected from injuries.
It provides superior protection of the metatarsus with its patented rigid system, the only one of its kind in the world, and CSA certified. Made of composite material, it is light and non-conductive of electricity and heat resistant.
In addition to its rigidity, wings extend onto the sides of the foot, which allows for the impact load to spread on a larger surface. These features considerably reduce the pain and the injuries that such an impact could cause.
This technology protects a wider surface of the foot and many bones, joints, ligaments, nerves, and muscles in this area.
Discomfort can cause fatigue, pain, and injuries; the Metatech System 360° was designed to allow the foot to bend normally to not create discomfort even after long hours of wearing the boot.
Additional Protection to Prevent Foot Sprains
Ankles are fragile. A loss of balance, stumbling, or a bad fall, and you can easily sprain your foot.
Ankle protection helps prevent this type of incident. Lack of support can give a feeling of floating, making the worker feeling unsafe, but can also causing long-term discomfort, such as blisters.
The Lock Fit Ankle is an integrated padding system located at the ankle, which allows the foot to position itself inside the boot to prevent foot sprains and provide good ankle and heel support.
The Lock Fit Ankle also helps to absorb shocks and reduce pain in the event of a blow. Having a proper fit also prevents the friction that can cause blisters.
There are two types of ankle reinforcements available in the shoe market, rigid plastic or foam. The Lock Fit Ankle uses foam, which is thicker and has better shock absorption, and is more comfortable. From work boots, this technology provides additional protection, offering better stability while being synonymous with comfort.
Are you looking for sturdy work boots? Here are our suggestions.
