Wearing a pair of suitable safety shoes can effectively reduce the risk of foot injuries associated with mechanical hazards at workplace, especially on construction sites. As different models of safety shoes may not offer the same level of protection, consumers should choose safety shoes carefully to get their feet properly protected at workplace.
In a joint test by the Consumer Council and the Occupational Safety & Health Council, a total of 12 models of safety shoes were tested for their performances.
The test samples included 6 models of ankle boots, 4 low shoes and 2 half-knee boots, priced from $120 to $1,099. 7 of them claimed to be in compliance with safety shoes standard.
In general, samples that claimed to be complying with stipulated standard were found to have better overall performance than those without such claims.
On the ability to protect against mechanical hazards, 3 out of the 12 samples passed all the tests - impact resistance and compression resistance of toecap, and penetration resistance of sole. 4 samples were less than satisfactory and failed to pass any of the tests, among them one claimed to be in compliance of safety shoes standard. The Council has passed the relevant test findings to the Customs and Excise Department for follow up.
On slip resistance, the samples were tested on both ceramic tile floor and on steel floor. Although none of the samples claimed to meet the requirements for slip resistance on steel floor laid down in the standard, they were tested with reference to the standard to assess their relative slip resistance on steel floor for consumers' reference.
Although results of the tests showed that most of the samples passed the test on ceramic tile floor, only 2 samples were found to pass also the test on steel floor. People wearing safety shoes should take note of this when working on steel floor.
The tests were conducted with reference to the European and International Standard of Safety Footwear EN ISO 20345. The safety shoes were rated on a 5-point scale based on: protection against mechanical hazards (45%), slip resistance (20%), comfort (15%), durability (15%) and functional design (5%).
5 of the 7 samples that claimed compliance with safety shoes standard attained 4.5 points. Among the remaining 5 samples (without claims of compliance), the highest score was only 3.
Some useful tips on choosing safety shoes are also included in the July issue of CHOICE:
- Choose those that comply with safety shoes standard defending on the specific hazards in the workplace. Pay heed to the protective functions marked on the safety shoes.
- Footwear made with leather usually has better abrasion resistance while all-rubber or all-polymeric footwear performs better in water resistance.
- If safety shoes with polyurethane (PU) outsoles are desired, remember to check the manufacture date which is usually marked on the outsole. The more recent the date of manufacturing the better.
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