Work Safety Shoes Technical Standarts Glossary

Various sectors face different risks such as heavy objects falling on the foot, molten metal or harmful chemicals splashing onto the foot, puncture wounds from sharp objects, standing on hot surfaces, and working on slippery floors. Injuries to the foot and leg are common accidents in industries like construction, mining, metalworking, and similar fields.

The primary factor to consider in foot protection is selecting knee pads, shoes, boots, or protective footwear appropriate to the risk encountered. Information should be gathered about the working environment and floor temperature, duration of work at that temperature, substances used in the environment, the types of tasks performed and how they are done, slipperiness of the floor, electrostatic risks, electrical resistance, whether the footwear will be used indoors or outdoors, and the need for prolonged standing

After deciding which type of shoe is needed, we must also consider the features of the shoe’s upper, sole, steel midsole, and ankle area.

A shoe bearing the CE mark means it has passed mandatory tests based on the EN ISO 20345 personal protective directive and is made from high-performance materials. Let’s review all the relevant standards below:

EN ISO 20345 Standard

• SB: Protective toe cap resistant to 200 Joules of impact (steel toe resistance) and 15 kN of compression.
• S1: SB + Closed heel (back) + Antistatic + Energy-absorbing heel + Resistance to hydrocarbons (oil resistance).
• S1P: S1 + Puncture resistance (steel midsole).
• S2: S1 + Water-resistant and non-absorbent upper.
• S3: S2 + Puncture resistance (steel midsole) + Cleated outsole.

EN ISO 20346 Standard

• EN ISO 20346: Protective shoes (100 Joule protective toe cap).
• PB: 100 Joule protective toe cap + compression resistance + 1,000 Newto
• P1: PB + Closed heel + Antistatic + Energy-absorbing heel.
• P2: P1 + Water-resistant and non-absorbent upper.
• P3: P2 + Puncture resistance.

EN ISO 20347 Standard

• EN ISO 20347: Occupational footwear (without toe cap).)
• OB: Resistant to tearing, abrasion, hydrocarbons, slipping, multi-layered; except for chromium VI, features water vapor permeability and ergonomic properties.
• O1: OB + Energy absorption in the heel + Antistatic + Closed heel.
• O2: OB + Energy absorption in the heel + Antistatic + Closed heel.
• O3: O2 + Puncture resistance + Cleated outsole.

Common symbols used in protective footwear standards:

• P: Steel midsole (penetration resistance up to 1,100 kg)
• C : Electrical resistance up to 100 kilo-ohms (conductive footwear))
• HI : Electrical resistance up to 100 kilo-ohms (conductive footwear)
• A : Antistatic footwear (electrical resistance between 0.1–1,000 mega-ohms)
• CI : Insulation against cold
• HRO : Heat-resistant outsole (up to 300°C)
• WRU : Water-resistant upper (shoe surface)
• E : Energy absorption in the heel area
• ESD : Electrostatic discharge

Certification:Products claimed to comply with the SRC slip resistance standard must have the SRC marking on their certificates. Product certificates should be obtained from institutions approved by the EU. Some of these institutions include PFI (Germany), SATRA (UK), CTC (France), and RICCOTEST (Italy).

In summary, a safety work shoe is not just about a steel toe and steel midsole; a conscious selection must be made according to the need. Otherwise, it will neither provide the desired protection against workplace accidents nor ensure working comfort.

YDS is a brand in Turkey that stands out in its field and produces products of such quality that they can be used for military purposes. When you choose YDS safety work shoes, you will experience comfort and safety that lasts all day.