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Putting your best
foot forward
Trackside workers can spend most of their shift on their
feet, in all weathers. Yvette Ashby, managing director
of the Workwear and Corporate Clothing Show, looks at
the footwear requirements for lineside staff
As plans progress for
Crossrail and HS2, there
will undoubtedly be a
significant increase in
demand for technical
rail workers, including
track and signalling engineers, as well as
overhead electrification specialists. And with
this expansion in the workforce, there will
be a corresponding increase in demand for
safety workwear and personal protective
equipment (PPE).
In the rail industry, the safety of rail
workers is paramount at all times and it is
vital that employers ensure staff are kitted
out in line with health and safety regulations
in mandatory, fit-for-purpose safety clothing,
PPE and safety footwear.
In terms of safety footwear, the need for
functional, robust and comfortable boots is
important. Luckily, there has never been so
much choice in the market as there is today.
While this is good news for the workforce,
it can be well nigh impossible for a health
and safety or procurement manager to know
where to start.
A comprehensive risk assessment will
dictate the specific safety requirements of
footwear by identifying the potential hazards
that the wearer needs to be protected from
in their working environment. In the rail
industry, these vary from electrical hazards
and uneven and slippery surfaces to falling
objects, including heavy machinery and the
presence of oil, chemicals and sharp objects.
It is also important to take into
consideration the fact that track-side
workers will be exposed to all the elements
and must be protected from inclement
weather. If workers’ cold feet contribute to
a reduction in core body temperature, this
can lead to them not only feeling the cold
but losing concentration and motivation.
Ultimately, their productivity falls.
Unlike clothing, which can be easily
added or removed as and when needed, safety
footwear is worn throughout a shift or an
entire day. It is therefore essential that safety
boots are breathable.
Trackside staff can cover a great deal of
ground, spending most of a shift walking
non-stop for several miles while inspecting
or repairing track, so comfort is a necessity
for long periods of use.
Above all, safety footwear for rail
professionals should be selected to fit the
specification for the environment where it
will be worn. Generally for track-side staff
and technical engineers this means safety
boots that are robust, provide good ankle
protection and support, have a hard wearing
sole, tough tread, steel toe-cap/steel mid sole,
comply with BS EN ISO20345 and provide
wearer comfort and waterproof protection.
This sounds like a tall order but help
is at hand from safety workwear and PPE
manufacturers and suppliers that have years
of experience providing rail networks with
the workwear and safety footwear they need
to keep their workforce protected.
The days of ‘one-shoe-fits-all’ are long
gone when it comes to safety footwear.
There are many more decisions to be made
when procuring footwear and it is vital to
ensure that safety boots and shoes are not
only durable, fit for purpose and conform
with EN standards, but are also comfortable
and a good fit.
n The Workwear and Corporate Clothing
Show (www.workwearshow.com) takes
place from 17-18 April at the Ricoh
Arena in Coventry. It is a major event
in the professional clothing industry’s
calendar and will showcase the best and
most innovative suppliers of workwear,
corporate clothing and personal protective
equipment in the industry
MARCH 2012 Page 23