Important Changes to Safety Footwear Standards

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A number of important changes to safety footwear standards have been made in the UK.

Safety Footwear standards haven’t changed here for more than ten years but new testing and standards are now in force. There are several new standards relating to the requirements that safety footwear needs to meet and the test methods for safety footwear

The changes mean that some safety markings and labeling will be changed, removed, or incorporated with other standards too. 

We To try and demystify these important changes in this blog we have summarised the new standards with the help of V12 Footwear’s informative white paper to clarify these changes for you and your team.

For more information, we recommend reading the informative whitepaper published by V12 Footwear.

Click this link to download the whitepaper.

What are the changes to Safety Footwear Standards?

  • New slip-resistance markings
  • New water resistance symbols
  • Scuff Cap Abrasion Resistance Test
  • Ladder Grip Test
  • New Codes and Tests for Puncture Resistance
  • The Area has changed for the Ankle protection test

What does this mean for your current safety footwear?

Don’t worry, these new standards don’t mean that your team’s current footwear is no longer safe and relevant. If your current footwear is certified to the old standards they are still safe to use and consequently will be until the certification is renewed in 5 years.

When are the old standards revoked?

There has been no official date given for the end of the previous standards – first published in 2011. Because the old standards are valid for 5 years after certification it means the old standards and new standards will run together for years before the old requirements are revoked.

Why are these standards changing?

The new standards are designed to make Safety Footwear even safer.  

  • They allow for more precise testing and clearer markings
  • New tests are designed to be more realistic for safety conditions out in the field
  • They make it easier for footwear manufacturers to tailor their footwear to the risk at hand

Of course, the most important reason for this standards change is to reduce the number of workplace injuries and make people as safe as possible at work.

If you’re concerned about the changes being made to safety footwear standards and how they may impact your team’s safety or are looking for Safety Footwear options contact our experts today.