Simon Ash, UK Sales Manager at HAIX, shares his expert opinion on the importance of buying footwear that complies with industrial safety standards and its role in mitigating the risk of slips, trips, and falls within the workplace.
In the 2022/23 Health and Safety report, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) revealed a concerning 32% of non-fatal injuries to employees are caused by slips, trips, and falls – a 3% increase from the 2018/19 data. Approximately 561,000 workers suffered non-fatal injuries, resulting in 3.7 million lost working days for employers.
Many of these incidents are preventable and correct protective footwear plays a major role in mitigating accidents. HAIX, a specialist manufacturer of functional safety footwear, understands the foundations of workplace safety and wellbeing, and the importance of investing in high quality, safety compliant protective footwear to prevent workplace injuries.
Navigating the Causes of Slips, Trips and Falls
Firstly, we must understand the factors contributing to slip and trip accidents. The Health & Safety Executive (HSE)’s guide provides insights into the various factors that play a part in any slip accident, including:
- Contamination by rainwater, oil, dust, and smooth surfaces like vinyl, ceramic tiles, or varnished wood.
- Cleaning practices, particularly dealing with wet floors, spillages, and trailing cables.
- Work practices such as rushing, distractions, negligence of duties, and inadequate PPE.
- Unsuitable workplace flooring with obstructions.
- Environmental conditions like lighting, noise levels, weather, humidity, and condensation.
- Improper footwear selection that lacks slip resistance, comfort, durability, performance, and essential safety features.
Regarding trip accidents, the Trip Potential Model outlines walkways, housekeeping, and design/maintenance as key contributors, highlighting the need for proper attention to these factors. Obstructions in walkways, uneven surfaces and insufficient storage further heightens the risk of tripping.
The Critical Role of Investing in Proper PPE Footwear to Mitigate Slips, Trips, and Falls
The British Safety Industry Federation (BSIF) has raised concerns about the prevalence of substandard and potentially dangerous personal protective equipment (PPE) after tests on 123 non-member products between December 2022 and December 2023 revealed that only 21% met compliance standards, while an overwhelming majority (79%) of products fell short.
With the abundance of options in the market, customers need to be sure that the products they buy fully comply with the correct standards and have the documentation to prove this. Buying products that don’t comply could put workers at risk of accidents, which could be costly for the business in terms of man hours lost and possible prosecution. As a result, there is a significant need for informed PPE footwear selection. Investing in premium-high quality footwear is vital for safety, reducing health and accidental risks and maintaining posture, which in turn leads to enhanced work productivity and job satisfaction.
Navigating the intricacies of safety footwear options requires more consideration than we might think. Opting for boots from accredited manufacturers that meet the stringent standards is an important step towards ensuring workplace safety, reducing accidents, and promoting a culture of responsibility.
For more information visit https://www.haix.co.uk/workwear/safety-class/
