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Work Boots Information

Work Boots are designed for industrial environments, and as well as being hardwearing and durable, they are commonly fitted with protective toe caps and/or midsoles, in which case they are often known as safety boots or steel toe cap boots. The toe cap protects the wearer's toes in the event that a heavy object is dropped onto or rolled over them, while an anti-penetration sole protects the soles of the feet against nails and other sharp objects routinely encountered in jobsite environments. Though work boots and safety boots are often known generically as steel toe cap boots, they are also available with composite safety materials as an alternative to steel. Both steel and composite safety boots have to be manufactured to an agreed safety standard to guarantee acceptable levels of protection.

Here's our Quick Application Guide:

• Non-Safety Work Boots - Boots without toe caps or midsoles. They are ideal for general low-hazard work, but will not be allowed on most construction sites or similar industrial environments.
• Steel Toe Cap / Midsole Safety Boots - The traditional choice of safety boot for many years, steel offers excellent protection against both crushing and penetration hazards. However, it does have disadvantages; steel toe cap boots can get very hot in warmer weather, and if you work in a high security workplace, they will also trigger metal detectors every time you walk through one. More importantly, as they contain metal, they can pose a sparking risk in combustible environments (though as long as the boot is not excessively worn, the steel will ordinarily be covered by an insulating material).
• Composite Toe Cap / Midsole Safety Boots - These make use of high strength composite materials instead of metal. They tend to be more comfortable than steel toe cap safety boots as they are typically lighter, more breathable and less conductive to extremes of heat or cold; additionally, they do not trigger metal detectors (unless they have other metal components) and do not pose a spark risk. However, they are also typically a more expensive choice.