A good pair of safety shoes/ boots is essential equipment in many industries. Safety shoes/boots are precision constructed to protect against common workplace dangers: slip and fall accidents, electrical shock, chemical burns, and broken bones.

Types of work shoes/boots

Steel toe

Composite toe

A scaffolding boss has pleaded guilty to charges against himself and his company for breaches to health and safety law after an employee suffered life-changing injuries in the workplace

A food seasoning manufacturer has been fined after an agency worker suffered serious hand injuries when his finger got caught in a machine.

Northampton Magistrates’ Court heard how the man, working at Symrise Ltd in Corby, was cleaning near the screw conveyor machine, when he tripped and his finger came into contact with the moving parts of the machine. He suffered a partial amputation to his left hand following this incident.

Guarding

Cold weather can endanger the lives of workers whose jobs put them in the midst of frigid temperatures and extreme weather conditions. According to OSHA, protective clothing is recommended for work at or below 4 degrees Celsius or below 39.2 degrees Fahrenheit.

If outdoor workers are outfitted with proper PPE, their risks of getting hypothermia, frostbite, or catching a cold are greatly diminished. Bad weather and storms often limit visibility, so if the PPE has high-visibility features, such as reflective tape, the risk of being struck by a vehicle is also decreased. A side benefit of wearing proper PPE in harsh elements is that workers are more comfortable, which helps to improve performance and productivity.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says that hypothermia results when body temperature is below 95 degrees and often occurs from prolonged exposure to cold temperatures. Warning signs include confusion, memory loss, slurred speech, shivering,

The world of confined spaces is diverse, ranging from holds, manholes and tanks to ducts, silos, vaults and pipes— all of which can be deadly. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports 136 people in the United States alone died in accidents when working in confined spaces and containers in 2015.1 Not only can these accidents occur during everyday work, but also in rescue scenarios. Whether a sanitation worker loses consciousness due to oxygen-deficient atmospheres during a routine maintenance check, or a firefighter is overwhelmed by toxic gases during a rescue situation, respiratory protection is paramount to any confined space entry.

OSHA defines a confined space as an area that is large enough for workers to enter and perform certain jobs, has limited or restricted entry or exit and is not designed for continuous occupancy.2 In confined spaces, conditions can rapidly change — toxins can accumulate, or oxygen deficient environments can cause asphyxiation. To combat — or at a

Our hands’ natural reaction to a tight, hot environment – sweat – can make wearing gloves uncomfortable and even lead to skin problems that make the issue worse. When skin is exposed to sweat for a prolonged time, it weakens and becomes more vulnerable; the moist environment is the perfect breeding ground for bacteria and fungus. In short, gloves are a necessary precaution, but without taking steps to reduce sweat buildup gloves quickly become a source of discomfort and health issues.

To say wetness in a single-use glove is uncomfortable is an understatement. Not only does it hinder your ability to perform certain job functions by limiting your dexterity, tactility and mobility, it can also become a safety hazard, since some workers will forego gloves altogether rather than deal with the sticky, oppressive feeling of a wet glove.

Decreasing productivity