Why Footwear is Crucial for Reducing Injury Risks in Mining

In the mining industry, good safety footwear is essential. Statistics from the NSW Resources Regulator indicate injuries to the feet, toes and ankles are relatively common in mining, comprising around 7% of bodily injuries.

It’s not just the feet either, injuries to other parts of the body can arise if a worker slips or falls over as a result of inadequate support. Workers can also suffer from limb or back pain if they stand for prolonged periods in unsuitable footwear.

The boots your workers wear must support their feet and ankles, and offer safety features tailored to their particular job and the specific hazards of the mine environment, such as water, chemicals, electricity, equipment and uneven surfaces. Blundstone provides a range of quality fit-for-purpose boots that offer comfort and support as well as protection.

Blundstone high-durability boots for mining

Blundstone’s boots for the mining industry provide shock-absorption and comfort to help reduce fatigue. They come with steel toe-caps, waterproofing and heat and chemical resistance. The range includes:

• Blundstone #980 – developed in collaboration with miners, these high-leg boots are part of the unisex extreme series. Features include a non-metallic penetration-resistant insole, XRD® Extreme Impact Protection metatarsal guard and a rubber outsole for slip-resistance on wet or uneven surfaces and heat resistance up to 300C. This boot is particularly suited to underground mining, and in environments involving uneven or rocky surfaces or where a worker spends a lot of their time knee-deep in water.
• Blundstone RotoFlex #9099 – these waterproof zip-sided 6-inch boots are resistant to high heat, fuel oil, electrical hazards, abrasion and cuts. The boots have a GripTek®MAX Sole, made from advanced Vibram Rubber TC4+, for traction, comfort and support. They are heat resistant up to 300C. This tough yet stylish boot suits a range of mining environments.
• Blundstone RotoFlex #9161 – these 6-inch boots have been designed for environments where there is potential exposure to hazardous liquid chemicals. Offering resistance to fuel oil and heat up to 300C, the boots are also tested for limited contact with common chemicals including methanol (A), dichloromethane (D), sodium hydroxide at 40% concentration (K) and isopropanol (Q). The GRIPTEK® XHD biomechanically engineered rubber (PUR) outsoles offer optimum grip and stability.

A trusted brand in safety boots

Blundstone has been designing and manufacturing hardwearing safety footwear for over 150 years. Business Development Specialist at Blundstone, Steve Broadbent, says the key to ensuring top quality in mining footwear lies in sourcing boots that have undergone thorough testing in “worst case” situations.

For example, Blundstone’s #9099 boot has undergone trials in some of the harshest environments possible – in open-cut mines in PNG that come with very wet conditions and highly uneven surfaces. Steve says these boots performed extremely well, with no leaks, even over a period of several months of very challenging use.

“So many different conditions and safety risks in mining means that you need a specialist boot that is fit-for-purpose,” says Steve. “The mining industry is evolving rapidly and Blundstone is prioritising innovation to ensure every worker is protected. Designed with advanced technology and tested for the harshest conditions, our mining safety footwear provides comfortable, supportive and lightweight protection for workers.”

As Australia’s largest provider of industrial and safety equipment, Blackwoods has all your job requirements covered. Talk to your local Blackwoods Technical Safety Specialist about Blundstone boots for mining.

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