5 Thumb Rules to Take Care of Your Safety Shoes | Black Hammer (2024)

Wearing safety shoes when working at industrial & constructional is extremely important, as these robust, high-duty shoes protect us from severe foot injuries.

With the above said, it is also your responsibility to devote a little time to take care of your safety footwear, right from everyday cleaning to fixing small-to-big damages promptly. These are several safety footwear tips that ensure your shoes stay is in optimum wearable condition for years.

Black Hammer’s range of safety shoes is precisely designed to ensure professionals don’t have to invest much effort in maintaining their work shoes.

Here, in this post, we’ve rounded up five thumb rules to embrace in order to add more years to the lifespan of your safety footwear:-

Thumb Rule 1: Fix the Wear & Tear, Never Overlook

The first rule of thumb for the maintenance of your workplace footwear is to look out for any sort of wears & tears.

Check whether the minutest part of the steel toe is visible, if that is the case, then you need to take your pair of shoes to a trustworthy local expert with prowess in Safety Shoes to deal with this problem right away.

Apart from the steel toe, you must check the condition of the insole is it coming off or unable to provide the comfort expected.

Also, thoroughly see if the metatarsal guard is visible.

In the above conditions, you must consult a professional to repair the damage.

When you avoid wear and tear, the problem becomes severe with time, and you’ll have to purchase a new pair of Work Shoes , and this will burn a big hole in your pocket.

Thumb Rule 2: After Work Cleaning Session

After a rough and tough day at the worksite, it is highly recommended that you must clean your safety shoes with a sponge and a dry cloth or a brush, it is important to get rid of small pieces/dust particles from underneath the shoes.

Make sure you have lukewarm water to clean the shoes, avoid the use of any sort of chemical solvent as it lowers the life span of shoes.

However, if you are struggling to remove the dust and dirt particles from the shoes, then you can slightly add gentle detergent to the lukewarm water.

Thumb Rule 3: Drying the Shoes Properly

In case your safety shoes have become wet owing to the condition of your workplace, it is important not to wear wet footwear. You must give time to the shoes to dry out, rather than putting the burden of your work shoes, when it is in the most vulnerable state-wet condition.

During the drying of the shoes, it is vital to stuff the inner part of the shoes with the paper as this will absorb moisture from every inch, and maintain the shape of the footwear.

You can air-dry your footwear, but in a ventilated space away from the direct exposure of the sun. This is because the heat is proven to have a bad impact on the durability of the safety shoes.

Not to mention, always keep your work shoes stored in a cool place, away from direct sunlight.

Thumb Rule 4: Use of Leather Wax

The leather wax not only renders a touch of grace and elegance to your safety shoes but also thwart the dust particles from sticking on the shoes.

Apart from cleaning, your leather safety shoes require some sort of beauty treatment to maintain its original look. With premium-quality leather wax, you can give the leather material its lost shine, durability, and flexibility.

Not just the shiny appeals more professional at the workplace, also makes it tough from the dirt/dust particles to stick to the treated shoes.

Thumb Rule 5: No Washing Machine

While we love the convenience of a washing machine when it comes to cleaning our clothes, but for safety shoes, it is a big “No.”

Why??

Because the safety footwear shoes will absorb the odors which are already present in the bucket of the washing machine.

Your safety shoes need to be thoroughly cleaned in the fresh air and never in a washing machine as it can hamper its life span.

You can also use a spray to give your shoes a fresh scent, but ensure that it doesn’t contain any synthetic ingredients. This is also a key aspect of taking care of your workable shoes to establish the work best and for long.

Closing Remarks

In the end, if you adhere to the above-mentioned five thumb rules for taking care of work footwear, then your safety shoes will remain in the best condition to protect your feet from injuries at sites.

Additionally, it is important to read the guidelines of the manufacturer, what do’s and don’ts they are requesting you to follow.

5 Thumb Rules to Take Care of Your Safety Shoes | Black Hammer (2024)

FAQs

5 Thumb Rules to Take Care of Your Safety Shoes | Black Hammer? ›

Safety shoes or boots must have a leather upper, non-skid soles, oil resistance and impact and compression resistance ratings of 75. The shoes must also have built-in toe caps to meet requirements. Protective footwear is required for employees at risk of injury from: Rolling equipment.

What are 5 factors that need to be considered when the appropriate type of protective footwear? ›

TOP 5 THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN PURCHASING SAFETY SHOES
  • Electric Shock.
  • Sharp objects that could penetrate any part of the foot.
  • Objects that might fall from above the foot.
  • Explosive or electrostatic discharge.
  • Exposure to water, heat or cold.
  • Exposure to welding spray, molten metal or corrosive liquids.

What are the rules for safety shoes? ›

Safety shoes or boots must have a leather upper, non-skid soles, oil resistance and impact and compression resistance ratings of 75. The shoes must also have built-in toe caps to meet requirements. Protective footwear is required for employees at risk of injury from: Rolling equipment.

How to maintain a safety shoe? ›

How to Maintain Safety Shoes
  1. Clean on a regular basis.
  2. If the shoes are leather, polish and treat with a leather preservative.
  3. If the shoes are suede, brush first and treat with a water resistant spray.
  4. Brush and wash the soles to remove any dirt and contaminants.

What are the OSHA rules for footwear? ›

Safety toe protective footwear must be worn at all times regardless of the presence of a hazard; and the safety toe protective footwear must meet the following requirements - leather uppers, oil resistant and non-skid soles, and American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) F2413-05 with an impact resistance rate ...

What are the five 5 PPE personal protective equipment in any order? ›

Components of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
  • Gloves. Gloves help protect you when directly handling potentially infectious materials or contaminated surfaces.
  • Gowns. ...
  • Shoe and Head Covers. ...
  • Masks and Respirators. ...
  • Other Face and Eye Protection.
Oct 20, 2022

What are the 3 key things to consider when wearing a PPE? ›

All Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) should be well maintained, clean, and reliable. Employers should check if it is safely designed and constructed according to their function and usage. It should fit comfortably for users to ensure they are protected and they can work efficiently.

What is the basic standard safety shoes? ›

This safety footwear standard requires all safety shoes to have front foot protection against a 200 joule impact. This is the amount of energy the toe region can absorb before breaking. Under the EN ISO 20345 standard there are different safety classes like S1 or S3 for example.

How to inspect safety shoes? ›

You would inspect the interior and exterior of the footwear – for obvious damage, for sole separation, for dented toe caps, for punctures or abrasion. Dirt. You should also check for dirt as the footwear needs to be kept clean to meet HSE's safety standards.

What feature must safety shoes have in order for them to be proper safety shoes? ›

As a basic requirement safety footwear must have a 200 joule toe cap. Other properties that may be included are: penetration resistance (midsole protection), conductive, anti-static, insulated against heat or cold, energy absorbing, outsole resistant to hot contact, water resistant.

How do you keep shoes safe? ›

How to Store Shoes
  1. Use shoe trees to maintain the shoe's shape. ...
  2. Put your shoes on wooden shoehorns for long-term shoe storage. ...
  3. Clean shoes thoroughly before storing them. ...
  4. Stuff shoes with acid-free paper. ...
  5. Use acid-free cardboard to keep boots in shape. ...
  6. Store them in a shoe box or a plastic box.

What are the safety shoe guidelines? ›

The federal government's standard, 29 CFR 1910.136 (a), is clear: “The employer shall ensure that each affected employee uses protective footwear when working in areas where there is a danger of foot injuries due to falling or rolling objects, or objects piercing the sole, or when the use of protective footwear will ...

What is the protective footwear policy? ›

To ensure the safety of employees, appropriate protective footwear must be worn by all persons when working in areas where there is a danger of foot injuries due to falling or rolling objects that could crush the foot, objects that could pierce the sole, and where the employee's feet are exposed to electrical hazards.

What is safety shoes in PPE? ›

Safety shoes are personal protective equipment (PPE) for foot protection at workplaces. They prevent foot injuries caused by heavy objects, sharp piercing edges, pinch points, hot objects, splinters, chemicals, and electricity.

What are the factors to consider when choosing footwear? ›

Footwear should have a comfortable, durable design, be made of high quality materials, and protect the feet from injury. A proper fit is top priority (see the suggested shoe fitting guidelines below). Never buy a shoe based on looks alone; brand, design, style, and color should come second to a proper, comfortable fit.

What are five selection factors that should be considered when determining the type of PPE to wear for an incident? ›

Five Essential Factors to Consider when Choosing PPE
  • Workplace Hazards. PPE should be selected based primarily on the hazards of the workplace. ...
  • PPE Functionality. ...
  • PPE Comfort and Ergonomics. ...
  • PPE Fit. ...
  • Sustainability of PPE Supply.

What are the 5 different types of PPE personal protective equipment that may be found in the workplace? ›

Types of PPE
  • Respirators.
  • Protective gloves.
  • Protective clothing.
  • Protective footwear.
  • Eye protection.
Mar 15, 2023

What factors should you consider when selecting an appropriate PPE? ›

7 Most Important Factors for Selecting PPE
  • Climate. One of the first things you need to consider when selecting the right PPE is the climate that people will be working in. ...
  • Threat Level. ...
  • Balancing Comfort & Safety. ...
  • Presence of Vehicles & Forklifts. ...
  • Sizing & Proper Fit. ...
  • Industry. ...
  • Cost of PPE.
Nov 8, 2019

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