SAFETY FOOTWEAR IMPACT RATINGS

There are two classifications for impact ratings--Classes 50 and 75:

I/50 resists 50 pounds dropped from 12 inches.
I/75 resists 50 pounds dropped from 18 inches.

What do these figures mean? I/75 rated toe-caps must pass a foot-pound test by dropping a 50-pound steel weight from a height of 18 inches. This is measured in foot-pounds and will protect a worker from an impact of 75 foot-pounds.

There are two classifications for compression ratings--also Classes 50 and 75. The shoes are tested to withstand compression at a set poundage before the toe-cap begins to crack or collapse:


C/50 = 1,750 pounds
C/75 = 2,500 pounds

The ASTM standard F2413-05 dropped a previous Class 30 rating from both impact and compression ratings. The standard also excludes "hang-on" or "strap-on" toe-caps, which are added on to the shoe. The toe-cap must be an integral, built-in part of the footwear. Also, the standard has removed static dissipative (SD) type II shoes, leaving only type I.

Read the Label
Here is a sample of a label you might find in safety footwear:
ASTM F2413-05
M I/75 C/75
PR
That code breaks down in this manner:
ASTM F2413-05 is the ASTM standard.
M I/75 C/75:
M or F identifies the gender (M = Male or F = Female)
I/75 is the impact resistance rating.
C/75 is the compression resistance rating.

That list of ASTM initials reminds us that feet in the workplace can be injured in a great variety of ways, so many factors need to be taken into consideration. Slip resistance, for example, is a factor employers need to ponder. Are employees in danger of slipping on slick surfaces? OSHA requirements for fire brigades, in 1910.156(e)(2)(ii), call for Class 75 footwear that is water-resistant for at least 5inches above the bottom of the heel and equipped with slip-resistant outer soles.

Written By: Mike Girolami, President of Michigan Industrial Shoe http://wwwmichiganshoe.com/, Local Distributor of Work Boots, Safety Shoes and Work clothing, Redford MI

WHEN IS A SHOE NOT JUST A SHOE…

The workplace can be dangerous in many different professions. Each job offers its own hazards, which is why safety shoes and clothing is so important. There is a wide variety of safety shoes and clothing available to handle specific needs for each job. Safety clothing can include everything from fire retardant suits down to simple eye-protection. Take, for example, safety footwear. Any company that assumes all safety footwear is the same would be doing its workers a serious disservice, opening the door to potential injuries. Many important factors need to be considered when selecting the right protection for workers' feet.

How do you know what kind of safety footwear to buy? Let's look into what the OSHA has to say on the matter, because compliance with OSHA standards is a high priority for the business community. OSHA standards provide guidelines for the selection of all personal protective equipment, which includes safety footwear.
According to OSHA's 29 CFR, Part 1910, General Industry regulations, Subpart I, Personal Protective Equipment, 1910.132 General Requirements, you must assess the workplace to determine whether hazards are present, or are likely to be present, that make the use of PPE necessary. In the case of safety footwear, the nature of those hazards will help in selecting a product with the right protective properties.

In 1910.136, OSHA identifies some of the hazards that need to be addressed when selecting safety footwear: "The employer shall ensure that each affected employee uses safety footwear when working in areas where there is a danger of foot injuries due to falling or rolling objects, or objects piercing the sole, and where such employee's feet are exposed to electrical hazards."

A partial list of occupations for which foot protection should be considered would include assemblers, carpenters, drywall installers and lathe operators, electricians, freight handlers, gardeners and groundskeepers, laborers, machinists, mechanics and repairers, packers, plumbers and pipefitters, punch and stamping press operators, sawyers, shipping and receiving clerks, stock clerks, structural metal workers, timber cutting and logging workers, warehouse laborers, and welders.

Electrostatic dissipative shoes, which reduce the accumulation of static electricity, should be worn around sensitive computer equipment so the machines do not receive static shocks. To prevent potentially dangerous sparks, they should also be worn where an explosive atmosphere, such as flammable vapors, may be present.

Safety footwear with puncture protection would be required where sharp objects, such as nails, screws, or scrap metal, could be stepped on by employees. Also, workers in settings that include garbage, such as landfills, should wear shoes with puncture protection to prevent the possibility of being stuck by infected needles.

Safety footwear for workers climbing ladders also should have defined heels and solid shanks, a supportive component of shoes, to stop the feet from bending downward on the rung.

Remember, OSHA regulations have been created and are enforced to protect workers from harm. When regulations are followed and workers are supplied with the right PPE, multiple benefits result: fewer accidents, lower overhead costs, lower insurance premiums and worker's compensation expenses, and, ultimately, greater profits for the company.

Best of all, workers can go home at night happy and free of injuries, enabling them to look forward to another great day of workplace safety and productivity.
Written By: Mike Girolami, President of Michigan Industrial Shoe www.MichiganShoe.com , Local Distributor of Work Boots, Safety Shoes and Work clothing, Redford MI

NURSING – HARD ON YOUR FEET

The demand for nurses has been on the rise for several years, spurred by various economic and demographic factors. And demand for nurses is likely to continue to increase. Candidates for nursing jobs that are in highest demand include registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, certified nurse assistants, and certified medical assistants.

According to the US Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment for registered nurses is expected to increase 23% between 2006 and 2016. Here is a breakdown of The Bureau's estimated increase percentage per nurse employer type:

• 39% - Offices of physicians
• 39% - Home health care services
• 34% - Outpatient care centers, except mental health and substance abuse
• 27% - Employment services
• 22% - General medical and surgical hospitals, public and private
• 20% - Nursing care facilities

The typical shift at a hospital for a nurse is 12 hours. Nurses are on their feet for most of those 12 hours. If a nurse is not properly outfitted with the correct work shoes, their feet will cause them a lot of discomfort and thus rendering them unable to do their work properly. Through time, improper shoes can lead to other physical problems. That is why the right shoe, proper fitting and overall foot care is very important to this profession. Here are just a few foot care facts that everyone should know.

• It's neglect and a lack of awareness of proper care - including ill fitting shoes - that bring on problems.
  
• 3 out of 4 Americans experience serious foot problems in their lifetime.
  
• The foot contains 26 bones, 33 joints, 107 ligaments and 19 muscles.
  
• 1/4 of all the bones in the human body are down in your feet. When these bones are out of alignment, so is the rest of the body.
  
• Women have about four times as many foot problems as men. High heels are partly to blame.
  
• Walking is the best exercise for your feet. It also contributes to your general health by improving circulation, contributing to weight control, and promoting all-around well being.
  
• Your feet mirror your general health. Conditions such as arthritis, diabetes, nerve and circulatory disorders can show their initial symptoms in the feet - so foot ailments can be your first sign of more serious medical problems.
  
• There are 250,000 sweat glands in a pair of feet. Sweat glands in the feet excrete as much as a half-pint of moisture a day.
  
• The two feet may be different sizes. Buy nursing shoes for the larger one.
  
• The average person takes 8,000 to 10,000 steps a day, which adds up to about 115,000 miles over a lifetime. That's enough to go around the circumference of the earth four times.

So for all you nurses out there, remember that your feet are very important to your profession and comfort and support are a must for those long shifts.

Written By: Mike Girolami, President of Michigan Industrial Shoe http://www.michiganshoe.com/ , Local Distributor of Work Boots, Safety Shoes and Work Clothing, Redford MI

The History Channel's look at shoe construction featuring Aetrex Shoes

The History Channel newest series “The Works” began airing in August 2008. The series is hosted by Daniel H. Wilson, a robotics expert, author and editor. “The Works” finds fascinating facts and history about everyday items to reveal the incredibly complex systems behind the creation of those items that we take for granted. The series dissects a wide range of products including power tools, beer, and sneakers.

The sneaker episode offered an intriguing look at the evolution of sneakers and their huge impact on athletic performance, fashion and pop culture. The episode covered the complicated construction process in making a shoe and interesting history. One interesting fact is that sneakers were so named because they were quite to walk in and a person could sneak around the house without being heard.

Three companies were profiled on this episode - Brookes, Nike and Aetrex. Aetrex, founded in 1946, is a $60 million dollar family-owned corporation. The company is recognized as the global leader in pedorthic footwear and foot orthotics. The company has the iStep, a patented foot scanning technology, to analyze your feet and how you step. The iStep helps consumers identify their arch type, shoe size and pressure points. This makes them the leading provider of customizable footwear solutions.

The segment followed host Daniel Wilson as he was sized on the iStep machine. Wilson notes in the episode that Aetrex has “sneaker fitting down to a science” and he adds that he “had never felt more comfortable”.

The average person walks 10,000 steps a day. During a lifetime that tallies up to 115,000 miles or four times around the planet. That’s a lot of walking and a lot of impact on your feet, knees, hips and total body. As we age we begin to feel those affects. Wearing Aetrex customizable footwear will make each step you take more comfortable.

Catch the next episode of “The Works” on the History Channel. This show airs Thursday nights at 10:00pm EST.


Written By: Mike Girolami, President of Michigan Industrial Shoe www.MichiganShoe.com , Local Distributor of Work Boots, Safety Shoes and Work clothing, Redford MI