The first step in safety footwear selection is to conduct a hazard assessment of the work environment. A hazard assessment is extremely important and should not be overlooked. The type of protective footwear you choose will depend on the hazards to which the worker is exposed. Oil, gas and construction workers in Nigeria have special requirements which we can meet – high levels of protection with comfort for the wearer.
Worldwide Procurement Services area able to supply safety footwear to BS EN ISO 20345:2004 which is the recognised British Safety Standard.
Hazards to the foot include equipment, electricity, chemicals, sharp objects, and machinery. Exposure to these hazards can result in broken bones, burns, or in extreme cases, amputation and loss of the use of the foot and lower leg. Examples of health hazards include over exposure to harmful dusts, chemicals or radiation. The hazard assessment should begin with a walk through survey of the facility to develop a list of potential hazards in the following basic hazard categories: Impact, Penetration, Compression, Chemical, Heat/cold, Harmful dust, Light (optical) radiation, Biological.
In addition to noting the basic layout of the facility and reviewing any history of occupational illnesses or injuries, things to look for during the walk through survey include: Sources of electricity, Sources of motion, such as machines or processes where movement may exist that could result in an impact between personnel and equipment, Sources of high temperatures that could result in burns, eye injuries or fire, Types of chemicals used in the workplace, Sources of harmful dusts, Sources of light radiation, such as welding, brazing, cutting, furnaces, heat treating or high intensity lights, The potential for falling or dropping objects, Sharp objects that could poke, cut, stab or puncture, Biologic hazards such as blood or other potentially infected material.
Protective toe caps are generally fitted to footwear designed to provide impact and compression resistance. Traditionally, these have been made from steel, although aluminium types are also available, and, more recently, plastic or composite non-metallic materials have entered the marketplace.
