PUTTING THE BEST FOOT
FORWARD SAFELY
From wearable technology to advances in footwear, new innovations are ensuring that safety workwear provides better protection than ever. By LISA WITEPSKI
T
oe-capped boots may be the best-known safety footwear, but the fact that they leave the tender bones of the metatarsal vulnerable to falling objects means that they are not the most efficient, says Thandi Momubaghan, founder and CEO of Khulunathi PPE specialists. In fact, says Deane Nothard of the BBF Safety Group, the area is gaining attention as a growing number of case studies highlight the importance of metatarsal protection, especially for workers in industries such as mining. This has led to the development of new technologies. One such development is a gel that hardens on impact, moulding to the shape of the footwear to create a lightweight “shoe”. The drawback, though, is that this gel does not consistently pass tests specified by 20345 regulations. “That’s why, at present, the
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traditional metaguard is still preferred – albeit with improvements in shape and weight,” says Nothard. The metatarsal guard is another option, says Momubaghan. Such guards are available as internal or external protection, with a new variety – the external/internal super met guard – gaining traction. “We’ve moved on from the days when external guards made of impactresistant plastic were the only choice. These sat on top of the shoe, covering the entire metatarsal region as well as the toes and were made of hard plastic. The next design featured a leather-like material that was covered with resistant plastic inside. This had the advantage of protecting the foot from sparks and heat, but the hard plastic meant that it was heavy and uncomfortable, and because the guard covered the shoe down to the sole, it often caused falls.
Thandi Momubaghan
“We’ve moved on from the days when external guards made of impact-resistant plastic were the only choice.” – Thandi Momubaghan, founder and CEO of Khulunathi PPE Specialists
MANUFAC TURING
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2021/03/24 10:21 AM
