European Standards for safety shoes

Standards for safety shoes for specialised applications

Some occupations associated with specific activities and hazards require modified types of footwear defined by their respective standards:

• ΕΝ ISO 17249:2004 – specifies the requirements for safety shoes with resistance to chainsaw cutting
• ΕΝ ISO 15090:2004 – specifies the requirements for shoes designed for firefighters
• ΕΝ ISO 13832 – consists of three parts and specifies requirements for shoes providing protection against chemicals
• ΕΝ ISO 15090:2004 – specifies requirements for electrically insulated safety shoes for work in low-voltage installations

Additional standards (non-European) for electrical shoes:

• C.S.A. Z195 P.4.4. – Canadian standard whose requirements imply dielectric strength up to 18000V/60hz for a period of 1 minute
• ASTM 2413-11 – American standard whose requirements imply a dielectric strength of up to 20000V/60hz for a period of 1 minute

Requirements for safety shoes

The categories and symbols for safety, protective and work shoes relating to the essential and additional requirements, as defined by the respective standards, are described in the table below:

The category is followed by the symbols of the additional requirements, where applicable. For example, S1P shoes meet all S1 requirements and in addition provide protection against perforation of the sole. The additional requirements for safety, protective and work shoes with their respective symbols and markings include:

Requirements relating to the entire shoe

P – Protection against perforation in the sole (shoe with anti-puncture insert)
C – Conductive shoe
A – Anti-static shoe (it should be noted that anti-static shoes do not guarantee sufficient protection against electric shock, as they simply introduce a resistance between the sole and the floor)
I – Electrically insulated shoe
HI – Heat insulation (in the sole, with respect to ambient temperature conditions)
CI – Cold insulation (on the sole)
E – Mechanical energy absorption at the heel
WR – Water resistance (waterproof) throughout the shoe including the point where the upper joins the sole
M – Metatarsal protection (requirement only in relation to safety or protective shoes)
AN – Ankle protection
CR – Cut resistance

Requirements relating to the upper

WRU – Resistance to water permeability and water vapour absorption

Requirements relating to the outer part of the sole

HRO – Resistance to hot surface
FO – Resistance to hydrocarbons

How to choose the right safety shoes for hazardous work

Safety, protective or work shoes are designed to protect the soles and feet from various injuries. Impact, pressure and puncture are the most common mechanical types of foot injuries. Toe protection is often used as a last resort to protect against falling objects, as well as pressure forces affecting the feet during work. Metal toe protection is the most popular form of certified footwear, and lighter non-metallic toe protectors are also available. In addition, non-metallic finger protection is not electrically conductive and resistance to heat or cold transfer can make a big difference in the work environment.

To prevent foot injuries from stepping on sharp or pointed objects, a safety shoe with soles that provide puncture protection should be selected. This is achieved by applying a non-degradable insert to the sole.

Slips, trips and falls associated with walking on slippery surfaces and resulting in injuries such as broken bones or sprains can be reduced by choosing a non-slip sole. The choice of the type of sole is important. Flexible shoes, which allow most of the sole elements to come into contact with the walking surface, and those with the most elements in the sole per unit of sole surface area are preferable. The sole surface should be smooth and flat at the contact surface and should not wear out quickly. Where water and lubricants are present, square or short rectangular patterns in the sole ('traction') provide very good non-slip characteristics.

Working in cold environments requires shoes with thermal insulation, while working in hot conditions requires heat-resistant shoes with insulating soles. To protect against splashes of molten metal such as in welding, shoes should be quick release.

Protection of the soles or feet from chemical agents is provided by shoes that are impermeable and resistant to these chemicals. If the wearer comes into contact with organic solvents, then soles with resistance to hydrocarbons are recommended. The most typical materials used in shoes for chemical hazard protection are natural rubber, neoprene and polyvinyl chloride (PVC). For example, natural rubber shows resistance to bases, acids, alcohols and most water-soluble chemicals. It is a flexible material that keeps soft in cold weather conditions, but is not recommended for solvents and oil-based chemicals. Neoprene shows resistance to most fats, blood, oils, alcohols, alkalis and caustics, and demonstrates lower resistance to tearing and puncturing than shoes made of natural rubber. With regard to PVC, it is characterized by good protection against animal fats, bases, alkalis, oils, many acids, alcohols and petroleum hydrocarbons. It is not recommended for use with most solvents, ketones and aldehydes.

From an electrical standpoint, three main types of shoes are available, which are anti-static, conductive and electrically insulated safety shoes. These three types have very distinct purposes. These work shoes should be selected in combination with other types of PPE (protective clothing, helmets or gloves) which meet the requirements for electricity.

In the case of workers working in an environment sensitive to static electricity, anti-static shoes should be chosen. Especially in potentially explosive atmospheres or when handling sensitive materials. These types of shoes help to disperse the build-up of static electricity from the body. They also provide a relative level of protection to electrical hazards from active circuits. It should be noted that anti-static shoes cannot guarantee adequate protection against electric shock. They merely provide a resistance between the feet and the floor.

To protect the wearer in an environment where the accumulation of static electricity in the body is recognised as a hazard, conductive shoes should be chosen. These workplaces are associated with the handling of explosive or unstable materials. Conductive shoes are made of materials that do not present any electrical resistance. The shoes disperse static electricity from the body to the floor to reduce the possibility of ignition from static electricity sparks, unstable chemicals, explosives or explosive dust. It should be noted that these types of shoes do not guarantee protection against active charges or electrical equipment.

Electroconductive shoes should not be used if the risk of electric shock from any electrical mechanism or active parts has not been completely eliminated.

Working conditions associated with activities involving low-voltage installations require electrically insulated shoes. This type of shoe is used for work on or near active parts or installations not exceeding 1 KV a.c. These shoes, when used simultaneously with other electrically insulated Personal Protective Equipment, such as gloves or blankets, prevent dangerous currents from passing through the wearers' feet.

Selecting the appropriate safety, protective or work shoes for specific work requirements is essential to ensure that the shoes provide adequate protection. It should be noted that the selection of appropriate footwear should be integrated with a screening process to ensure that the shoes are functional prior to use. Finally, it should be noted that the protective properties of shoes are confirmed under laboratory conditions when they are new, so that the expiry of their service life and wear and tear from use should be taken into account.