Injuries from slips, trips and falls present a significant challenge for employers. The latest Safe Work Australia statistics show these accounted for 32,000 or nearly 21.8% of all injury claims in 2023-24.
Preventing these usually involves site controls, such as slip-resistant flooring, and removing obstacles. But it can be easy to underestimate the role footwear plays in keeping workers stable and moving safely, especially over uneven surfaces, rough terrain, catwalks or throughout long shifts.
Boots that restrict natural movement, reduce stability or limit a worker’s ability to sense and respond to changes underfoot can lead to a loss of balance or coordination, and potential injuries.
These are some of the challenges Blundstone set out to solve with the RotoFlex range.
The RotoFlex range is the result of a three-year development process, including Blundstone talking to health and safety officers on mining and construction sites about injuries, and commissioning biomechanical research from the University of Tasmania School of Health Sciences.
Andrew Dickinson, Design & Innovation Manager at Blundstone, says the range is built around a flexible shaft and a stable sole to support natural movement and balance, and allow workers to better sense their foot position.
He says ankle injuries are a key concern for health and safety officers, but a stiff boot is not necessarily the answer. He says a boot that is too stiff can be too restrictive, and may also lead to changes in gait, which can increase fatigue from the extra energy required just for walking.
“Ankle injuries can come just from walking. For example, you might just take a step and have your balance off slightly, which can cause you to roll your ankle surprisingly easily,” he says. “But you are less likely to have a loss of balance when your ankle is free to move. So, we realised that, yes, we need to protect the toe, that's the basic requirement. Yes, we need a grip on rough terrain, that's an important requirement. But the ankle roll was a really big issue that was being faced by the industry.”
RotoFlex boots also have a wide, low heel designed to position the heel bone closer to the ground and deliver more contact for stability. The heel also has a cavity which can flex or bridge over a pivot point to help avoid an ankle roll and pain in the sole from standing on an object such as a stone, for example.
The RotoFlex range won a Good Design Award in 2023. The range includes boots designed for men and women, which have a softer footbed for lighter frames. They come in several styles and colours, including black and wheat.
Blundstone states that all boots in the range feature:
There are also chemical-resistant and waterproof models. As Andrew points out, our feet are the part of the body most in contact with the earth.
“You interact with the world through your feet,” he says.
This makes the choice of work boot crucial.
Blackwoods is proud to offer Blundstone as part of our commitment to keeping Australian workers safe. As the country’s largest provider of industrial and safety equipment, we’ve got everything you need to protect your team. Explore the full Blundstone RotoFlex range designed to support natural movement and stability on site.