In the Australian work environment, workers’ feet take a daily beating. Around 70% of workers spend a quarter of their workday standing or walking. With so much time on their feet, the chances of strain, sprain or injury are high.
In 2022, 497,300 people in Australia experienced work-related injuries or illnesses, with 17% attributed to slips, trips, and stumbles. If you do the maths, that’s around 84,541 people with injuries involving their feet in one year alone. These incidents often lead to extensive absences from work, disrupting productivity and increasing your operational costs.
Boots That Are Up To Standard
Proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE), including safety footwear, can prevent 37.6% of occupational injuries and diseases. It’s not just about creating a culture of safety though. It’s also a legal requirement.
Comfort is Key
Another factor is comfort. We all know that to perform to the best of your ability on a job site, you need to feel comfortable and unrestrained. The foot is a complex mechanical structure made up of 26 bones, 33 joints, over 100 hundred muscles, ligaments and tendons. Uncomfortable, hot or ill-fitting footwear can have a big impact on worker productivity, which is why it’s important to have safety footwear with a science-based design for comfort.
Brett Huggins, Head of Product Development from Oliver explains, “Investing in comfortable boots not only provides immediate relief but can also assure your long-term wellbeing. Uncomfortable or ill-fitting boots can affect the way you walk, increasing injury risk and contributing to medical conditions such as plantar fasciitis, arch pain, bunions, calluses and corns. They can also impact your mobility and blood circulation which can contribute to chronic health issues. Painful feet due to uncomfortable boots can hinder your ability to concentrate at work, impacting not only your performance but also lead to increased chances of injury. This is why we invest in significant comfort technology for all of our boots.”
Innovations in Work Boot Technology
For well over a century, Oliver Footwear has been crafting workboots that not only meet but exceed industry standards for performance, comfort and durability. The team at Oliver is constantly innovating, using meticulous research to improve and perfect their safety footwear for optimum comfort and safety.
Some Innovative Features of Oliver Footwear:
- The PORON® XRD™ Metatarsal Guard creates a unique protective shield that absorbs up to 90% of the most intense forces, providing enhanced protection against impact and crush injuries.
- SAFETYcell® technology, comprising a fully integrated TPU (Thermo Plastic Urethane) coated leather shell,
toe bumper, and heel guard, offers enhanced abrasion
and cut resistance. - The COMFORTcushion® Impact Absorption System offers superior cushioning and shock absorption, helping to reduce foot, leg and back fatigue.
Fitting your team with high-quality workboots creates a safer, more compliant and more productive work environment. Proper foot safety isn’t just about preventing injuries; it’s about fostering a work environment where employees feel protected and valued. Empower your workers to start their day on the right foot with safety footwear that stands up to the demands of the Australian industry.
Related Articles
