For workers who spend their working day on their feet, good footwear is essential for foot comfort.
In addition to providing comfort, good footwear for working while standing also prevents illnesses, injuries and the perception of fatigue is reduced.
Work footwear is often used intensively, so we must pay attention to it, because there are problems such as plantar pain, which are caused by poor support or deformation caused by excessive hours of standing.
All this means that the vast majority of people have to use corrective insoles. But how to prevent it?
The insole, a fundamental part
The safety insole is the fundamental part of work footwear and the one that has the greatest impact when working on your feet, together with the sole.
For this, the insole must have a suitable composition and constitution so that they support the foot and provide a perfect footing.
Many models of safety or non-safety work footwear include a removable insole that can be replaced by other made-to-measure ones if necessary.
The materials of which the insole is composed are fundamental, for example, latex provides great durability in addition to being very spongy. Foams of different densities and eva rubbers are also used, which provide greater durability and breathability.
Nowadays, synthetic materials such as microfibres are beginning to be used, which provide the same benefits as natural materials such as leather.
Most common mistakes in the purchase of work footwear
The design
The design of safety footwear is the first thing to consider. Choose the most comfortable, low-cut models that can be adjusted to the width of the foot and ankle during the day.
Within the designs, the internal finishes should be taken into account and try to rule out designs with many seams or poorly arranged seams.
Choice of size and width
The choice of size and width is essential in order to choose the right safety work footwear. We should never buy a small or narrower shoe, waiting for it to adapt with use.
In these cases it is best to turn to companies that design, develop and produce made-to-measure work footwear or to use tried and tested brands, as repeating the model already purchased guarantees us a great shoe that will adapt to our feet.
Choice of materials
The materials of which the shoes are made affect their comfort, so it is essential to pay attention to the lining of the inner part in order to generate a good perspiration of the foot.
Alternate footwear
A common mistake is to wear the same shoe every day, so you should change your footwear more regularly, even alternating shoes in the middle of the working day.
This will ventilate the shoes and give your feet more rest.
Extending their useful life
It is very common to continue using footwear even if it shows signs of deterioration or deformation, which generates footprints that cause joint problems.
Work shoes should be checked regularly for problems.
The sole should not be over-tightened because in the end its cushioning and anti-slip properties are reduced, which can cause problems with falls and slips.
Work footwear with heels
There are professions that require more elegant work shoes, and the most common trend is to wear shoes with heels.
It is advisable that the height of the heel is not excessive, but in the case of having to use a high heel, the heels should have a sufficient base to provide optimum stability in the footprint.
Likewise, if the work shoe has a sole that rests on the inside, it will provide greater comfort and wellbeing.
Have you found our recommendations for choosing the right safety footwear for standing work helpful? Leave us your comments.Remember! If you are looking for a strategic partner for the design, development and production of your high quality custom-made safety footwear to protect your workers from all occupational hazards or for marketing, we at GPI can help you.
