How to choose your safety shoe size?

PPE or Personal Protective Equipment are equipment specially designed for high-risk workers whose body is exposed to potential work accidents. They exist under several categories and safety shoes are one of them. These types of shoes are designed to prevent and protect the wearer against the risk of strain, sprain or fracture. However, to guarantee ease and comfort when wearing this equipment, it is necessary to choose the best pair adapted to the wearer.

Why is it important to choose the right size safety shoe?

safety shoes are meant to be worn for an entire working day. The slightest discomfort can disrupt comfort and affect worker productivity. That's why you have to choose the right size of a safety shoe.

Why do safety shoes hurt the foot?

There are many criteria for selecting a safety shoe. You can choose the softest material to ensure ventilation and comfort. You can also choose the most innovative design, but if you get the wrong size, you can't put them on. See in this section why safety shoes hurt your feet.

Pain in the feet after wearing safety shoes can be due to an incorrect size or shoe size, bad postures and poses during work or even tenderness of the feet.

Incorrect shoe size

The main cause of foot pain related to safety shoes is the wrong size choice. It is possible that the wearer makes a mistake in measurement either by forgetting or by lack of availability. If the correct size is not available, the user will choose the larger size or the smaller one.

If the shoe is small

The feet are compressed and under great pressure. The narrow shoe encloses the toes and forces the nails into the skin, hence ingrown toenails. Nails pressed into the skin can cause severe pain in the toes. Small blisters due to friction can also appear on the ankles or toes.

If the safety shoe is too big

If, on the other hand, the shoes are too big, the feet wander inside and cause friction. It is these frictions which are then at the origin of blisters. Wearing safety shoes that are too big can also cause imbalance and cause falls during work.

Repetitive bad postures

The structuring of the soles of certain brands are not adapted to support a specific posture in the long term. It could also be that the worker has become accustomed to a bad posture that he maintains every day.

The sensitivity of the feet

People with sensitive feet tend to experience pain when wearing women's safety shoes. This pain is caused by poor blood circulation. In the long term, these pains can spread and affect the rest of the lower limbs. Sensitive skin can become irritated and cause small blisters to appear which in turn will cause infections if the material of the shoe is of poor quality.

How to avoid foot pain with safety shoes?

Wear safety shoes that are comfortable, stable and light to avoid fatigue. Wearing heavy shoes all day can make you tired in the long run. Choose the model best suited to your needs, the climate and the environment as well as the morphology of your foot. It's up to you to identify your needs and sensitive areas based on your profile and your working condition.

Which model for what type of job?

The lightweight work shoes have been designed to be practical and functional to fit the different working conditions and environment.

A low model without an ankle cover is very practical for professionals whose job requires kneeling or squatting postures. A high model provides optimal support for the Achilles tendons and ankles.

Which size to choose for safety shoes for men and women

The size reference varies from continent to continent. For this section, you will discover the French standards for shoe sizes.

How to be sure of your shoe size?

If a person doesn't know how much they wear, there is a measurement method to calculate the shoe size based on a proportion to the length of the feet. It is best to do this in the company of another person for greater certainty and precision.

To do this, put your feet flat and press your heel against the wall. Stand up straight, measure from the heel to the big toe, at the tip of your feet. Add 1 cm to the result obtained and divide this number by 0.66 and you get your size.

If you come across a random number between two sizes, take the higher value.

Another way to check the fit of a shoe in relation to foot size is to put it on. Put a finger behind it and if it fits without tightening too much, you have the ideal size.

Order your safety shoes at Oxwork, the reference in PPE and workwear

Men's Gear or woman, discover the best models of safety shoe at Oxwork. The store offers you a large catalog of safety shoes designed by the best-known brands (Safety Jogger, Diadora, Helly Hansen, Puma, Caterpillar or Blaklader) and adapted to all types of jobs and environment.