KEEPING TEEN WORKERS SAFE IN WORKPLACE

Restaurants and other eating and drinking businesses employ 11.6 million people in the United States. Nearly 30% of these employees are under 20 years of age. Many teens' first work experience is in the restaurant industry. OSHA can provide information to help youths working in the restaurant industry to be safe and healthy on the job.

Exposure of teen restaurant workers to injuries due to slips, trips, and falls while performing tasks such as carrying trays or bins of dirty dishes, washing dishes, mopping floors, emptying trash, cleaning, and spraying down parking lots. Slips, trips, and falls can also occur in the cooking area, from cluttered, slippery floors with oil, water, or food on them. It is particularly hazardous in this area because teens may fall into or onto hot surfaces or liquids.

Employers should make sure that all employees wear the appropriate waterproof and/or non-slip footwear. Crocs work shoes provide flexible, durable and uncompromisingly comfort, along with meeting the ASTM F1677 standards. Crocs’ independent test results demonstrate that Crocs lock™ tread is a leader in slip resistance. There are three styles that are ideal for the food industry.

High Velocity - Classic crocs comfort evolves into the first workplace boot with ankle support and a leather upper - Designed specifically for those in the foodservice and restaurant industry - Crocs lock™ tread exceeds most industry slip resistance standards - Slip resistant on dry, wet, soapy, oily, and greasy surfaces as tested by ASTM F1677 standards - Shock-absorbing sole and ergonomic footbed minimize the load on feet, legs and back, while circulation nubs help stimulate blood flow -Nubuck leather upper - ventilation ports for added breath-ability.

Velocity - Classic crocs comfort evolves into the first workplace shoe, with a leather upper - Ideal for the food service, hospitality and healthcare industries -Crocs lock™ tread exceeds industry slip resistance standards on oil, water, soap and a wide variety of slippery surfaces as tested to ASTM F1677 standards - footbed conforms to your foot creating a custom fit - Enhanced arch support footbed circulation nubs stimulate blood flow.

Bistro – the Bistro is designed specifically for those in the food service industry - Crocs lock™ tread, meets most workplace standards in slip resistance and comfort - Shock-absorbing sole and ergonomic footbed minimize the load on feet, legs and back, while circulation nubs help stimulate blood flow - resulting in reduced muscle fatigue and a more comfortable day at work – provides increased traction and conforms to ASTM F1677 slip resistance testing standards – enclosed design and thicker metatarsal area help protect foot from liquid intrusions – made with easy to clean crocs croslite material; simply rinse with soap and water.

Employers should consider implementing recommended safe work practices, including: a shoe policy program, the program could focus on employees wearing proper non-slip footwear, and could help fund proper footwear.

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

When in Doubt, Throw it out.

Choosing the appropriate work shoe for the specific demands of the job is essential to ensuring that a safety shoe provides the proper protection. But selecting the correct shoe for the job is only half the battle, experts say. The other half is monitoring safety footwear for signs that the shoe may need to be "retired."

Remember, there's no one-size-fits-all formula for knowing exactly when it's time to replace safety shoes, as there are many variables to consider such as the job hazards, how often the boot is worn and the size and weight of the worker.

When inspecting safety footwear to see if it needs to be replaced, shoes with steel toecaps will offer more tactile clues than shoes with composite material toecaps. For example, if a heavy object falls on a steel toe shoe, the steel cap will be dented and will not "spring back," indicating that the shoe must be replaced. Composite toe shoes, on the other hand, could be "irrevocably damaged" in the same incident and still maintain their form.

That's one reason why replacing impact-resistant safety footwear anytime something heavy is dropped on it. Even if there's only "mild impact," if there's any doubt that the shoe will be able to offer protection next time something falls on it.

There are steps that workers can take to make sure your safety footwear stays in good condition to extend the life of their safety footwear.

First, choose the right shoe. Often when safety shoes fail to meet expectations it's because the shoes weren't appropriate for the job task. If possible, see if you can conduct a hazard assessment for each job task to determine what kind of foot protection is needed for each job.

Then dedicate a few minutes each day to the care and maintenance of your safety footwear. This can go a long way toward extending the life of your work shoes. After each use, safety footwear should be sprayed off with a hose; dipped in water; or cleaned with soap, water and a cloth or brush, depending on the type of work shoes and how dirty they are.

Lastly, if it's feasible, purchase two pairs and rotate between the two pairs, on average, a worker can perspire as much as 200 milliliters of moisture into a boot or shoe when involved in heavy activity. Such moisture not only can eat away at the boot but also can cause discomfort and blisters for the workers. By giving each pair of work boots a day to rest, you allow the moisture to evaporate and dry out.

So, choose the right footwear for the right job, take proper care and you will extend the life of your safety footwear.

Michigan Industrial Shoe carries the best safety shoes and work boots for your job. We carry safety footwear brands like Bates, Caterpillar, Crocs, HyTest, Harley Davidson, Nautilus, Wolverine and more!

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

Two Common Foot Conditions

Plantar Fasciitis is an inflammation caused by excessive stretching of the plantar fascia. The plantar fascia is a broad band of fibrous tissue which runs along the bottom surface of the foot, attaching at the bottom of the heel bone and extending to the forefoot. When the plantar fascia is excessively stretched, this can cause plantar fasciitis, which can also lead to heel pain, arch pain, and heel spurs.

Plantar Fasciitis often leads to heel pain, heel spurs, and/or arch pain. The excessive stretching of the plantar fascia that leads to the inflammation and discomfort can be caused by the following:

• Over-pronation (flat feet) which results in the arch collapsing upon weight bearing
  
• A foot with an unusually high arch
  
• A sudden increase in physical activity
  
• Excessive weight on the foot, usually attributed to obesity or pregnancy
  
• Improperly fitting footwear

Over-pronation (flat feet) is the leading cause of plantar fasciitis. Over-pronation occurs in the walking process, when a person's arch collapses upon weight bearing, causing the plantar fascia to be stretched away from the heel bone.

With Plantar Fasciitis, the bottom of your foot usually hurts near the inside of the foot where the heel and arch meet. The pain is often acute either first thing in the morning or after a long rest, because while resting the plantar fascia contracts back to its original shape. As the day progresses and the plantar fascia continues to be stretched, the pain often subsides.

The key for the proper treatment of plantar fasciitis is determining what is causing the excessive stretching of the plantar fascia. When the cause is over-pronation (flat feet), an orthotic with rearfoot posting and longitudinal arch support is an effective device to reduce the over-pronation and allow the condition to heal. If you have usually high arches, which can also lead to plantar fasciitis, cushion the heel, absorb shock and wear proper footwear that will accommodate and comfort the foot. Other common treatments include stretching exercises, plantar fasciitis night splints, wearing shoes that have a cushioned heel to absorb shock, and elevating the heel with the use of a heel cradle or heel cup. Heel cradles and heel cups provide extra comfort, cushion the heel, and reduce the amount of shock and shear forces placed during everyday activities. Every time your foot strikes the ground, the plantar fascia is stretched. You can reduce the strain and stress on the plantar fascia by following these simple instructions: Avoid running on hard or uneven ground, lose any excess weight, and wear shoes and orthotics that support your arch to prevent over-stretching of the plantar fascia.

Heel pain is a common condition in which weight bearing on the heel causes extreme discomfort.

There are two different categories of heel pain. The first is caused by over-use repetitive stress which refers to a soreness resulting from too much impact on a specific area of the foot. This condition, often referred to as "heel pain syndrome," can be caused by shoes with heels that are too low, a thinned out fat pad in the heel area, or from a sudden increase in activity.

Plantar fasciitis, a very common diagnosis of heel pain, is usually caused from a biomechancial problem, such as over-pronation (flat feet). The plantar fascia is a broad band of fibrous tissue that runs along the bottom surface of the foot, from the heel through the midfoot and into the forefoot. Over-pronation can cause the plantar fascia to be excessively stretched and inflamed, resulting in pain in the heel and arch areas of the foot. Often the pain will be most intense first thing in the morning or after a prolonged period of rest. The pain will gradually subside as the day progresses.

To properly treat heel pain, you must absorb shock, provide cushioning and elevate the heel to transfer pressure. This can be accomplished with a heel cup, visco heel cradle, or an orthotic designed with materials that will absorb shock and shear forces.

When the condition is pronation related (usually plantar fasciitis), an orthotic with medial posting and good arch support will control the pronation and prevent the inflammation of the plantar fascia. Footwear selection is also an important criteria when treating heel pain. Shoes with a firm heel counter, good arch support, and appropriate heel height are the ideal choice. Footwear product recommended for the above conditions are Aetrex Athletic Socks, with Copper Sole™ Technology, they are unsurpassed in comfort, performance and protection. Copper Sole Technology has been lab tested and clinically proven to help prevent Bacteria, Fungi and Odor, as well as improve skin texture and appearance. The Aetrex® X801 Athletic Walker is designed to provide an equal distribution of pressure throughout the gait cycle while maintaining the highest standards in density orthotics feature a Pro-Shox™ top cover for superior cushioning and shock absorption. Lynco® Biomechanical Sports Orthotics are designed specifically for comfort, support and weight redistribution in athletic, walking and comfort footwear.

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