Anti-slip Safety Shoes – When Do You Need Them?

When it comes to staying safe while on the job, anti-slip safety shoes are a must. Why? Read below to see what the shoes mean for you or your workers.

Slips and falls cause thousands of job site injuries every year, which makes anti-slip safety shoes a necessity. According to NIOCH, workplace slips accounted for 27 percent of the more than 888, 000 injuries in the US in 2019. In this particular article, we will examine how slip resistant safety shoes help you to stay safe and places where you need them most.

What are Anti Slip Safety Shoes?

Well, as the name says, anti-slip safety shoes are a type of footwear that utilizes an outsole with a specially patterned texture to prevent slipping. They are also called slip-resistant safety shoes or non-slip safety shoes, and used to reduce falls in particularly dangerous conditions. Such situations includes when working at height, when walking on wet or smooth surfaces and other slippery surfaces.

Antis-slip work boots are a kind of heavy-duty footwear with anti-skid soles. These offer higher levels of protection and more features than regular slip resistance safety shoes. Some of these include soles with deeper and wider cleans, metatarsal protection, and higher cut construction. Anti-slip boots are most useful in high-risk jobs such as construction sites, factories and warehouses.

The Sole of Non Slip Work Shoes and Boots

The soles of non-slip shoes and non-slip boots and non-slip shoes are usually textured to increase grip. They’re also designed to prevent liquids from getting trapped in the shoe sole and causing you to skid. The type of pattern affects the effectiveness of the slip resistant sole.

Safety grip shoes and non-slip boots can also use different sole materials such as rubber, TPU, and EVA. Some materials, notably rubber and EVA, offer a better grip due to their softness and are the most preferred in a majority of workplaces. The cleat pattern and depth also matter and determine the choice of shoe to use.

Although non-slip work shoes or boots come with special soles as their main attribute, they also offer other protective features. Examples of these features are safety toes, heat or chemical resistant materials, and puncture resistant soles to keep your feet protected while allowing you to move freely.

When do you Need Non Slip Work Shoes?

There are many reasons to wear anti-slip work shoes, even if you don’t work in a high hazard environment. It goes a long way to prevent unexpected slips and falls. Anti slip shoes are even more important if you work in wet areas places with smooth surfaces.

As such, people working in kitchens, labs, and hospitals need shoes that will prevent skidding. Farmers too, or people working in factories and other places that may have wet or smooth floors and other surfaces. In all these places, the danger is either a smooth surface or a wet floor.

Besides employees, many people find slip resistant safety shoes necessary in their daily duties. These include work-related activities, when exercising, or when hiking for fun. Hikers, in particular, need shoes with anti-skid capability, especially in hiking in the winter season.

How to Identify Anti Slip Safety Shoes?

Safety shoes are designed to be worn in specific environments. For example, some conditions pose higher risks of slips and falls than others and require specially made anti-slip work shoes with exceptional grip. So how do you identify safety shoes that are manufactured with an anti-slip sole? You can do so by checking these:

Package Label

Every pair of anti-slip boots and anti-slip shoes comes with a label for features, such as the area in which the shoe is safe to use. On this label, you will find either wording or symbols that indicate whether it’s meant for workplace wear (indicated by symbol) and/or if it offers slip resistance (indicated by wording such as “non-slip” or “anti-slip”).

Manufacturer Website

Most shoe manufacturers have an online database that displays a product’s safety features. So, if you’re unsure about whether a specific pair of anti-slip safety footwear has anti-slip soles, you can visit the manufacturer’s website and check out its features. If it provides any information about slip resistance, you will find this on the product page.

Outer Sole Texture

Non-slip work boots and work shoes have soles designed to prevent skidding. However, not all soles are created equal and some materials offer better slip resistance than others. So, to make sure you’re buying the safest shoes and boots for your needs: Look closely at the sole’s cleat pattern. Narrowly spaced patterns offer better grip on wet surfaces while wide cleats perform better on non-wet but smooth surfaces.

Outer Sole Shape

Another factor to consider is the shape of the outsole. Soles with flat edged do not offer a firm grip as rounded soles do. That’s because they tend to trap liquid underneath, leading to “hydroplaning”. So if you’re looking for slip-resistant safety shoes that can handle tougher conditions, look for rounded outsoles.

Customer Reviews

If you’re still unsure about a specific pair of anti-slip shoes, look at what other users have to say about it. These reviews will often point out whether the shoe has an anti-slip sole or not as well as its pros and cons. That way, you will be able to select your anti-skid footwear based on practical advice.

Common Standards for Non Slip Works Shoes

Different regions use different safety shoe standards. In the US, safety shoes and safety boots are required (by OSHA) to meet what’s called ASTM standard. In Europe, protective footwear must be manufactured to the EN ISO 20345 safety standard.

The ASTM standard requires all safety shoes to be slip resistant. However, the standard doesn’t specify the required level of resistance. Slip resistance work shoes and work boots under the EN ISO 20345 standard must pass these tests.

• SRA rating– shoes are tested on a wet steel plate covered with mineral oil to measure the coefficient of friction.
• SRB rating– shoes are tested on a steel plate covered with glycerin to measure the coefficient of friction.
• SRC rating– shoes are tested on a wet steel plate with both mineral oil and glycerin.

Tips for Buying Anti Slip Shoes and Anti Slip Boots

There are different types of non-slip boots and non-slip shoes, so it is important to find the right type of for the right environment. Some shoes are designed to be worn indoors, while others are made for outdoor use. There are also shoes that can be used in both environments. Here are tips you will find useful when buying anti slip safety shoes or anti-slip boots.

1. Look for features that will protect you while also working with your job and what you’ll be doing on a daily basis. For example, if you work mainly indoors but have to go outside occasionally, look for anti-slip shoes that are lightweight enough to wear over a long period of time without causing you discomfort.

2. When it comes to kitchen environments, slipping isn’t the only risk. There’s also the danger of hot liquids scolding your feet. The best non-slip shoes for kitchen work should, therefore, offer heat protection as well.

3. In addition to slipping, roofers face the risk of sharp objects and objects falling or rolling and hitting their feet. Therefore, when buying anti-slip work boots for roofing, choose those that offer toe protection and come with anti-puncture soles.

4. The warehouse is another slippery environment that requires footwear with slip resistant soles. Again, slip resistant, steel toe safety shoes will offer better protection in this kind of work environment since it protects the toes from heavy objects as well.

5. Nurses are always on their feet and need slip resistant shoes to prevent falls and injuries while moving around the hospital. Lightweight anti-slip safety shoes will help prevent fatigue at the end of the day, among other features.

6. If you spend a lot of time outdoors walking on wet or icy surfaces, then a good pair of slip resistance boots can be a lifesaver. Slipping and falling on frozen ground can lead to very serious injuries, so it’s important to have the proper footwear to prevent this from happening.

7. You need non-slip shoes or non-slip boots for almost every activity, whether indoor or outdoor environment. Be aware that slip resistance starts from the type of sole material. Ensure that the material offers enough grip before you can assess the texture.

8. Anti-slip safety boots and safety shoes with shallow, closely-spaced cleats are great for indoor spaces, especially wet surfaces. They prevent water and other liquids from getting trapped under the shoes. On the other hand, wide-spaced and deep patterns fit outdoor environments such as construction sites and hiking grounds.

9. When buying anti-skid footwear, ensure that you do your homework and choose the right type. These shoes come with varying abilities to prevent slipping. If you work in the oil industry, for example, you will need the best slip resistance safety shoes and safety boots out there.

10. It’s important to keep in mind that anti-slip footwear provides protection but aren’t a cure-all for falls. It’s still important to be aware of your surroundings and take extra precautions where needed. Always avoid hazard areas and if you have to, walk on them with caution.

Conclusion

Anti-slip safety shoes and anti-slip boots are important parts of workplace safety. They provide good traction, and can help keep you safe on the job. Because slipping and falling is a common hazard in most work environments, we recommend that you take every precaution possible to avoid an accident. Be sure to choose the right pair of shoes for the job and wear them in areas where they are needed most. With these simple tips for anti-slip shoes, you can stay safe while on the job.