In the safety footwear sector there are a wide variety of types of work footwear to guarantee the health of the worker, given that each job demands different needs and has its own associated risks.
Antistatic footwear is one of the most common at a professional level, and also one of the least known. In this article we explain what electrical conductivity is and the specific types of safety footwear depending on it.
What is electrical conductivity?
Electrical conductivity is the capacity of an element to allow electrical current to pass through it.
The most common electrical hazards in the workplace are usually those caused by the passage of current through the body, but the reality is that there are more risks associated with electricity.
- Burns: caused as a result of short circuits.
- Electrocution: caused when there is contact with live material.
- Explosions: generated as a result of the agglomeration of electrostatic charges that produce sparks.
In order for the worker to be safe from these risks, it is essential to assess the risks of the workplace he/she occupies, and to determine the electrical conductivity of the components that will protect him/her.
Types of footwear according to their electrical conductivity
Conductive footwear
Within the resistance levels of the different types of work footwear, conductive footwear has a low level of resistance, although it is sufficiently optimal to withstand electrostatic charges being dispersed, thus reducing the danger of their accumulation.
As they have a low electrical resistance, it is advisable not to use this type of footwear when there is a possibility of coming into contact with high-voltage materials.
Antistatic footwear
Antistatic materials are those that make it difficult for static electricity to build up in an area. This type of electricity does not in itself create a hazard, but the sparks that static electricity produces can be dangerous.
To prevent the above risks, antistatic footwear, a type of footwear with increased electrical resistance, has emerged.
Antistatic footwear has a medium resistance and dispersion capacity in the face of electric discharges caused by electrostatic charges, so antistatic footwear reduces the possibility of sparks being generated, due to the fact that static electricity is prevented from being produced.
It is important to know that this footwear should not be used in jobs where there is a high exposure to electricity, as it has a low resistance to the passage of current, so it can cause electrocution of the worker.
The most effective materials for this type of footwear are rubber and polyurethane, due to their static properties.
The most common use of this type of footwear is in the health sector, as these workers are exposed to possible static currents or leaks, as there are different areas in health centres with a high static electricity charge.
ESD footwear
ESD footwear has a maximum degree of dissipation of electrostatic charges. This footwear arises due to the fact that there are jobs where a slight static charge can cause a severe accident to the worker or on the instruments and the work being carried out.
ESD footwear is regulated by the EN 61340-4-3: 2005 standard. This footwear is very similar to the previous one, the difference being that ESD footwear separates the electrostatic charges to the outside.
Dielectric footwear
Dielectric or insulating footwear is designed to protect the worker operating with electricity, so this type of footwear must have a high electrical resistance to prevent the current from spreading through the operator’s body.
According to EN 50321, only rubber or polymeric waterproof boots comply with this standard.
What did you think of this article? We hope that our advice has been useful for you to choose the best work footwear for your workers.
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