From the plant floor to the warehouse, speed is becoming increasingly critical to deliver on customer needs in the current economic landscape. It’s easy to forget about the importance of worker comfort and safety during challenging times. When this happens, organisations may see an increase in injuries and declining productivity. Footwear technology is evolving rapidly to address these issues, with manufacturers developing lighter footwear aimed at improving worker safety, productivity and job satisfaction.
Here’s a look at the latest trends in lightweight safety footwear and how new materials can lighten the load while still offering solid foot protection.
What’s driving this move toward lighter-weight footwear?
Heavy boots can feel like bricks on a worker’s feet, especially if worn eight to 10 hours per day. This can result in fatigue, bruising and more extensive injuries from slips, trips or falls. Morale can be impacted as well, because if workers are uncomfortable their overall job satisfaction can also decline.
Is lightweight safety footwear less durable than heavier footwear styles?
The availability of newer, lightweight materials has allowed Red Wing to develop less bulky styles of safety workwear for all types of work. In the past, steel toe boots were the preferred option for many work environments. But the introduction of composite and other non-metallic toe caps in recent years has allowed for significant weight reductions in footwear without sacrificing safety. In addition to safety toe choices, there are other ways to reduce weight, including lighter-weight materials and new ways to construct and assemble footwear.
6343 CoolTech™ ATHLETICS Men’s Athletic
2454 Exos Lite Men’s 6-inch Boot with BOA
3258 ShieldLite Men’s Athletic Black-Red
6719 Zero-G Men’s Chukka
How are footwear designs changing to meet current and future workforce needs?
Modern footwear manufacturers, such as Red Wing, are taking cues from casual athletic wear trends to develop safety footwear that is stylish, ergonomically friendly, and inspired by lightweight trends in the athletic footwear market while still meeting and/or exceeding safety needs and standards.
These innovative lightweight footwear designs are just what today’s modern workers need to be productive in many fast-paced work environments. Providing high-quality athletic-inspired Red Wing safety footwear for workers helps keep them comfortable and supported when they’re on the go all day.
For more information on the benefits of outfitting your workforce in premium lightweight safety footwear, visit redwingsafety.com/lightweight and learn more about all of their head-to-toe PPE solutions.
