Whether you work in construction, demolition, mining, rescue, law enforcement, or in a junkyard, the last thing you want to do is step on a sharp object and know it without seeing it. Other than singing the old tune, “we hate when that happens,” Working Person’s Store offers you a slew of safety boots and shoes to ward off this evil. Let us explain …
That old standby, the American Society for Testing and Materials, in their valiant effort to help keep you safe, has spelled out what you can expect from puncture-resistant shoes and boots in their classic “F2413-05 Standard Requirements for Protective Footwear.”
In order to pass these standards, the puncture resistant footwear has to have a special plate between the sole and insole. This piece must be installed as an integral part of the manufacturing process for that Work Shoe or Boot. Mining boots are great examples of puncture resistance because the tasks that the jobs entail. These hazardous environments require the bottoms of your feet to stay protected to lessen the likeliness of injury. They may also have insulation and an internal met guard, so make sure you look at all the features before you purchase a pair.
Secondly, that piece has to resist corrosion, as we don’t want rain or puddles disintegrating your protection until you’re walking on rust. So to test this, the guys and gals in the white smocks stick the boots in a special fog chamber. Then they spray them (100% humidity) with a 5% salt solution for 24 hours. And if that’s not enough, the temperature inside the chamber is about 95 degrees! (No, you can’t buy one to get those incredible creases out of your old shirts because you didn’t iron them.) They must show no signs of corrosion after this.
Thirdly, the footwear has to show no signs of cracking after being flexed 1.5 million times. (And you thought your job was boring.)
Finally, the sole must resist a puncture of at least 270 pounds of pressure.
If your work takes you both in and out of an office, you can find use in adding puncture resistant insoles. Although they will not offer the same protection as footwear that is made specifically for puncture resistance, they will put a barrier in between a hazardous object and the bottom of your foot. Look around. When it comes to safety workwear, Working Person’s Store has what you need.
