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Standards: resistance to mineral oils and hydrocarbons

Intended to protect workers against occupational risks, personal protective equipment must comply with the standards relating to the sector of activity for which it is intended. Therefore, a risk assessment must be carried out by the employer in order to determine the PPE to be provided to its employees. Today, we are revealing the essential information about work shoes adapted to the requirements and constraints of the work environment, especially in the presence of mineral oils and hydrocarbons (EN ISO 20345).

Mandatory equipment

As a general rule, in the (non-exhaustive) list of mandatory personal protective equipment, we distinguish:

  • The safety helmet (on construction sites as in certain industries)
  • Protective goggles or protective mask (intended to protect the eyes or face from splashes and projections)
  • Protective or high visibility work clothing (depending on the environment and working conditions)
  • The safety or work shoes

Standards in force relating to safety footwear

The wearing of womens safety shoes or men is governed by the European standard EN ISO 20345. The latter is divided into six main classifications, knowing that SB represents the basic standard. Footwear meeting this standard is able to:

  • Resist abrasion, tearing and water vapor
  • Protect the worker from the risk of slipping thanks to their non-slip soles
  • Protect the user's feet from shocks thanks to a toecap displaying an energy resistance of 200 joules (equivalent to an object weighing 20 kilos falling from a height of one meter) and risks of crushing with a force of 15 kN (equivalent to approximately 1,500 kilos)

What about resistance to mineral oils and hydrocarbons?

This criterion for preventing slips on oily or greasy floors relates to the following standards:

  • S1 (intended for a dry environment): footwear that meets the basic SB standard, but with additional features. They have antistatic properties (A), have soles that are resistant to oils and hydrocarbons (FO), and have a high level of shock absorption at the heel (E).
  • S1P (intended for a dry environment and protects against the risk of perforation): footwear that meets the requirements of the S1 standard, but has additional anti-perforation (P) soles.
  • S2 (intended for a dry or wet environment): footwear that meets the requirements of the S1 standard, but has an additional waterproof upper (WRU).
  • S3 (intended for a dry or wet environment and protects from the risk of perforation): shoes benefiting from the combination of the S1P and S2 standards, but with non-slip outsoles in addition.
  • S4 (intended for wet and dry environment): boots displaying the same properties as the S1 standard.
  • S5 (intended for a dry and humid environment, and protects against the risk of perforation): shoes with the same properties as the S1P standard, but with additional non-slip outsoles.