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Standard S3: safety shoes

With the regulations that are constantly evolving in the Labor Code, it is necessary to know the security measures that professionals must adopt.

Use of safety shoes

According to Article R.233-83-3 of the Labor Code, personal protective equipment must protect workers against risks likely to threaten their health and safety. Several criteria must be taken into account to define the appropriate PPE, depending on the type of activity and the work environment.

According to the latest reports, foot injuries (lacerations, wounds or fractures, among others) account for about 7% of work accidents. Therefore, wearing S3 ​​safety shoes helps prevent occupational risks.

About S3 safety shoes

The majority of work accidents are generally related to the environment, which greatly influences the choice of suitable PPE. Dedicated to workers working in wet areas, whether indoors or outdoors, safety shoes and safety sneakers meeting standard EN 20345 category S3 must be equipped with:

  • A protective shell
  • A studded sole to prevent the risk of slipping
  • A anti-perforation midsole (P)
  • An outsole capable of resisting mineral oils and hydrocarbons (FO)
  • A shock absorber at the heel (E)
  • A sole with antistatic properties (A)
  • A water-repellent upper made of a material with increased resistance to water penetration and absorption (WRU)

It is worth noting that work-shoes, no matter what class they belong to, should display a ergonomic shape to guarantee the user optimal comfort.

Iso 20345 standards (high or low safety shoe/trainer, S1, S2, S3, real protection)

A safety shoe follows the characteristics of the ISO 20345 standard, a shoe with the ISO 20347 standard is a work shoe and not a safety shoe, so the protection is not the same.

To ensure optimal foot protection, this equipment must comply with the EN ISO 20345 standard and meet the basic SB (Safety Base) requirements. To do this, they must have:

  • A toe capcapable of withstanding an energy of 200 joules and a crushing force of 15 kN
  • Anon-slip sole

The EN 20345 safety standard is divided into four main categories, each with its own specificities: S1, S1P, S2 and S3. Additionally, there are safety shoes for women and men.