It’s what’s inside that counts

While personal protective equipment (PPE) footwear is paramount in many industries, it seems as if it’s all about technical specifications and good looks … But what about foot health?

This question was raised by foot expert and researcher Dr Anette Thompson at this year’s A-OSH Expo, which took place from May 31 to June 2 at the Gallagher Convention Centre in Johannesburg.

Her thought-provoking presentation was sponsored by Bova Safety Wear in the interest of improving foot health.

“There are two acts of parliament with regards to PPE, and those laws have two intentions that are pretty important as far as the feet are concerned,” Thompson pointed out. The acts are the Occupational Health and Safety Act, No. 85 of 1993and the Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act No. 130 of 1993.

“Firstly, the employer must provide PPE, and secondly the employee must know how to use the equipment correctly,” she continued. “In the case of PPE footwear, current legislation only regulates the technical properties of such PPE footwear, how it should be constructed, and how it should perform against outside risks.”

A common requirement is a toecap that must be able to withstand an impact force of 200 joules – equivalent to a 20 kg weight dropped from a height of one metre. Other requirements include that a PPE boot should offer protection against cuts, punctures, extreme heat or cold, chemical splashes, and electrostatic discharge.

“These are all technical specifications,” Thompson noted. “But what about the foot itself? The safety shoe is the foot’s environment, so it has a direct bearing on foot health.” So, research shouldn’t only focus on the technical specs, but also on how a shoe’s design can support foot health.

Not all feet are the same

“The human foot shows a lot of variety,” said Thompson. “In fact, there are no two feet that are exactly the same, even on the same person,” she added, pointing out that feet not only have different shapes but also different arch heights and alignments, as well as mixtures of these.

There can also be a difference in foot shape between the population groups of different countries. A national laser scanning measurement study has shown that South Africans have straighter feet than most, for example. “This is possibly due to our barefoot habits,” Thompson explained.

This is important to know, as some footwear curves more than other types. “If the shoe in-flare angle is greater than that of the foot, torsion (twisting) will occur in the midfoot, which can lead to foot problems like bunions, bunched up toes, and sore feet,” said Thompson.

This is why Bova’s Trax has a 2,5° axis, which aligns it better than a more curved shoe shape with most wearers in South Africa. “This company also cares about what happens on the inside of the boot – they have researched the linings and the innersoles, and do constant research to find ways of making the inside of the boot more comfortable and foot compatible,” Thompson emphasised.

Form is also important for other factors

Feet have various functions. They support our bodies, and help with propulsion and posture. “Those functions require the foot to be able to move in certain ways, which gives us the needs of the feet,” Thompson noted.

Fit: “If you carry a weight or jump down, your arch will flex like a spring; this makes the foot stretch longer,” Thompson explained. “So that is one reason why you need at least 1,5 cm ahead of the longest toe.”

There should also be enough space on the sides of your toes, so a boot or shoe must be wide enough. “Workers must be properly measured for the correct size PPE,” said Thompson. It might be that an employee will need a size up from what they’d usually wear.

Thompson mentioned that this is where the Bova Trax is a great choice as well, as it is wider in fit across the toes than many other safety shoes.

Flexibility: “After fit, the foot needs to bend easily, which helps all of the muscles to function – aiding blood circulation,” Thompson said. This is achieved through the contraction and expansion of foot and leg muscles around the blood vessels, which creates a pump or bellows effect, moving blood back to the heart.

“So, if you’re stomping around in a shoe that is completely ridged, your blood circulation will be affected,” expanded Thompson, adding that Bova’s Trax is a great fit in this regard too, as it is lighter and more flexible than PPE footwear from other brands.

Shock absorption: The shoe’s inner is very important for absorbing shock. “At heel strike, as you take a step, your foot needs some cushioning so that it can absorb shock and transfer it correctly up into your leg,” said Thompson. “The Bova Trax has built-in cushioning for the ball of the foot and the heel area as well.”

What about socks?

Thompson noted that we constantly lose our top layer of skin cells and if we don’t get rid of it, dead organic matter stays inside our shoes. Washing socks daily clears this debris away.

“You also need to help your boots to dry by removing the innersole every evening or alternate it with another pair to aid the drying process,” she advised. It also helps to spray the inside of your shoe with sanitiser and then leave it to dry, with Thompson adding that “antiperspirants up to three-times strength are also useful”.

Employers have a duty to train employees on how best to use PPE. “This should include reminders on daily foot hygiene, like washing your feet with soap and water, washing between the toes, then rinsing with plain water and drying the feet well,” emphasised Thompson.

“It’s not just about the boot – all the tech specs that research can come up with will be insufficient if feet are not taken care of by the people attached to those feet,” she continued.

“For employers, there is an ethical imperative that workers should be supplied with research-based, correctly fitting PPE footwear, inserts, and socks, in conjunction with and in addition to foot health education,” she said. “For further help with foot problems in your company, you can ask your health officer to contact their BBF Safety area manager, who can contact me directly.”