Safety Boots Selection Guide

We offer a comprehensive range of both safety and non-safety boots designed for use in the majority of industries. It is important that you choose the correct industrial boots for your specific working environment, so we recommend that in the first instance a risk assessment is carried out to ensure that the correct protection level and style of boots are selected.

Risk Assessment

Assess the risks within the working environment to either remove or protect against the hazards. This must involve defining the job or work area, recognising the risks, and identifying the correct method of reducing them i.e. by removing, controlling, or by choosing suitable safety boots.

Safety features include:

Materials and Construction

There are various methods of attaching the sole of the boots to the upper material, and this has some considerable influence on product selection depending on the environment in which the boots will be used.

Direct vulcanised rubber soles
A traditional construction method which gives excellent durability in the harshest of environments.
Direct injection moulding
A strong construction method, with either single density (polyurethane) or dual density (polyurethane / polyurethane with an outer density of nitrile rubber). Both types provide reduced weight with improved comfort and flexibility, without any compromise in performance.
Goodyear welted
Another traditional form of construction where the sole is stitched to the upper material. Again a very strong method, which would generally be slightly heavier in use than the above. Suitable for most dry environments.
Cemented
Exactly as it suggests, the sole is preformed and cemented (glued) onto the upper material creating a strong bond.
Cushioned soles
Appropriate when standing for long periods of time.
Wellington boots
The vast majority of Wellingtons in use are direct injection moulded, from either PVC with nitrile rubber or Polyurethane. Both types provide excellent flexibility and resistance to chemicals.

Selecting the correct materials

Selecting the correct materials is critical, especially when contaminants are present. By choosing the correct material the maximum lifespan of your boots can be achieved.

Nitrile rubber sole
for higher temperatures, oil and solvent resistant.
Polyurethane soles
for general purpose use, oil and solvent resistant.
Anti-static footwear
to dissipate static electricity.
Water repellant leather uppers
where there is an occasional exposure to water.
Micro-fibre (wat-out) uppers
where greater resistance to certain chemicals and oil is required.
PVC, PVC nitrile, rubber and polyurethane uppers
where there is long term exposure to water and certain chemical applications.
Cambrelle/Thinsulate/Thermalite linings
for greater comfort and temperature control of feet.
Gore-tex, Sympatex and other waterproof membranes inside a leather upper
allow the feet to breath whilst offering complete protection from water penetration.
Safety Boots Image
Denotes boots with safety toecap.
Denotes boots with safety midsole.
Denotes boots suitable for women.
Denotes boots with anti-static soles.

European Safety Boot Standards

Safety Boots are governed by a European safety standard which forms part of legislation, it is therefore imperative that safety boots are purchased from a reputable source and carry the fixed European Standard Mark EN345 for existing styles or the new conformity test ISO EN20345 that applies for recently certified or new products.

To be certain which standard your safety boots conform to, please refer to the label on the boots and/or the user guide that is provided in the box. All safety boots that carry either mark have been tested in accordance with the standard and have the following features:

Within EN345 and EN20345 additional features can be added to the safety boots which are needed depending on the environment for which they are being used. Adding the following levels after the EN345 or EN20345 mark denotes such features. Examples are:

The other relevant European standard mark is EN347 for Occupational Footwear with anti-static and/or slip resistant properties.

Sizing

Safety boots often carry European sizing, please see below for a comparison table.

BOOT SIZE CONVERSION TABLE
This table is for guidance only as sizes are not standardised
British2345678910111213
Continental353637383941424344464748

Maintenance

As with all boots it is important that they are cleaned and maintained on a regular basis, to ensure that the properties used at point of manufacture remain functional throughout the life of the boots.