What kind of safety shoes for industrial laundry?

Industrial laundries are linen treatment and sanitation centres. They offer their services for various commercial activities using linen such as nursing homes, hospitals, hotels and restaurants. This cleaning center supports all kinds of laundry like workwear, sheets, tablecloths, coveralls and uniforms. Workers in industrial laundries must wear shoes adapted to their environment to prevent and protect themselves from potential risks. Find out what type of safety shoes are recommended for industrial laundries.

Why is wearing safety shoes compulsory in industrial laundry?

Laundry professionals are daily exposed to chemical, physical and biological risks in their environment.

Chemical risks

Industrial launderers use toxic chemicals (detergents, disinfectants, stain removers) to clean linens. These products can be acidic, corrosive or even volatile. Their spread cannot therefore be controlled. Personnel can be contaminated or poisoned just by inhalation, direct contact or subcutaneous penetration. If the foot is poorly protected, it is exposed to the risk of contamination. This is why wearing safety trainers is essential.

Physical risks

Physical risks in the laundry concern potential accidents that may occur and strike the worker's feet. These accidents can be a fall due to slippery ground, an injury caused by objects and accessories placed at height falling on the foot, or the risk of electrocution following the leakage of current on the wet ground. It is therefore necessary shoes that can prevent slipping while protecting its wearer from possible shocks and falls.

Biological risks

The staff of this center are required to sort dirty linen, especially to treat linen from hospitals. Linens from this type of place contain microbiological agents that are the cause of various diseases and infections such as bacteria, viruses, fungi or even bacteria. It is therefore necessary to have integral protection of the body, even down to the feet, to avoid direct contact with these micro agents. Hence the need for safety shoes.

Who must provide safety shoes according to the labor code?

According to the Labor Code, if the company deems it necessary or mandatory to wear one or more PPE, it is up to the employer to provide them and to bear the loads. Safety shoes are no exception to this rule. The employer can also give an envelope for the purchase of PPE for each employee and it is up to the latter to choose the model that suits him. If he chooses a model that is more expensive than the budgeted one, it is up to him to top up the amount.

Safety footwear regulations

The EN ISO 20345: 2011 standard covers all the specificities required for safety shoes. This standard verifies the robustness, solidity, comfort, ergonomics and harmlessness of safety shoes.

The women's safety shoes or safety trainers for industrial laundry must be hygienic, non-slip, anti-static, waterproof and easy to maintain.

The ideal safety shoes for industrial laundry workers

The ideal shoes for the industrial laundry sector are the S1P safety shoes and the S3 classes. They protect against impact, prevent slipping and avoid direct contact with any type of product. Some companies choose to equip their employees with safety clogs, but the safest thing is to wear safety sneakers.

Class S1P shoes are characterized by the fundamental characteristics of a safety shoe (protective toe cap, resistance to abrasion, slipping), antistatic, energy absorbing at the heel, resistant to hydrocarbons, equipped with anti-perforation soles and closed at the back. These features make S1P safety footwear ideal for the industrial laundry environment.

The S3 standard safety shoes are also suitable for industrial laundries. They are resistant to humidity, mineral oils and hydrocarbons. They are also insensitive to perforation at the level of the soles, antistatic and absorb energies. This S3 safety standard for shoes is a real shockproof shield, suitable for industrial environments.

How many safety shoes per year?

There is no law, agreement or regulation setting the limit on the number of safety shoes to be worn annually. These are PPE intended for intensive use. When they are worn or damaged, they must be replaced, regardless of the number.

Do we have to return the safety shoes?

PPE is provided by employers and business owners. Therefore, it is his right to claim their restitution in the event of departure, resignation or dismissal of the agent. However, the return of PPE or safety shoes is not mandatory.