THE AMERICAN WELDER method of attaching the sole of a shoe. Once the upper is shaped and completed around the last, the sole is attached with a water-based cement compound adhesive — Fig. 2. Goodyear® Welt Goodyear® welting is the most durable method of construction. Involving several steps, it is the most labor intensive, but offers flexibility and the ability to re-sole boots if so desired. During Goodyear Welt construction, the upper and inner sole of the boot are stitched together with a leather or fabric strip referred to as a “welt.” The sole is then stitched through the welt. Goodyear Welted products are often more water resistant thanks to the multi-step construction and, though often more costly, provide longevity for the boot and the wearer. Protective Toes and Safety Classifications Safety Toes The environment of a craftsman or industrial employee is often wrought with heavy hazards. Finding the right protective toe is, in part, personal preference. There are three types of protective toes: steel, composite, and aluminum. All can be ASTM-rated similarly for protection. Oftentimes workers will select a specific safety toe based on their working environment and needs. Steel Toes. Steel toes are the traditional choice for protective toe caps and are heaviest and most compact. While your feet aren’t exposed to the steel insert, steel toes can conduct temperature more than alternative safety options. Footwear manufacturers today have begun devising ways to improve fit and comfort of steel toes by using protective toe-caps designed for the fit and size of the boot. KEEN Utility, for example, uses asymmetrical safety toes in industrial footwear that are contoured to the shape of the toes and feet, thus reducing bulk and weight without sacrificing safety. Aluminum Toes. Aluminum toes offer another choice for lightweight protection while still meeting ANSI/ASTM safety standards. They are thicker than steel toes and provide a great option for workers looking for the most lightweight choice in footwear. Composite Toes. Composite toes are typically comprised of carbon fiber, plastic, or Kevlar®. They comply with ANSI/ASTM safety requirements and are lighter than steel toes but are the thickest option for a safety toe and therefore have a bulkier silhouette than their steel or aluminum counterparts. Composite toes do not transfer cold or heat and since they are nonmetallic, offer a great safety option for workers passing through metal detectors or working in an environment that needs to stay metal free. Metatarsal Guards Work boots with metatarsal guards help to protect the delicate bones in the upper foot and toe area from heavy falling objects. This additional protection is also advantageous for welders or men and women working in environments where falling embers or hot materials may be a concern. Today’s metatarsal guards can either be internal, or for fuller protection, appear on the outside of the boot. Puncture Resistance In environments where metal, nails, or other job site hazards can be found on the ground, a boot that features a puncture-resistant outsole is an important tool. It’s important to confirm that the boots meet ASTM standards for puncture-resistant components. Slip Resistance Footwear that provides superior oil and slip resistance on slick surfaces can be essential in certain work environments. Many footwear manufacturers use rubber outsoles with specifically designed grooves and channels to divert water, increase surface area, and ensure better antislip properties. In slick environments, it’s important to seek out boots and shoes that meet or exceed ASTM Mark II nonslip testing standards. Electrical Safety When looking at a specific trade, in this case, working with and around electricity, special attention must be paid to work footwear to reduce the possibility of electrocution or other electricity-related accidents. There are three general classifications for safety footwear from an electrical standpoint and all three have distinct purposes. Nonconductive Footwear. Nonconductive footwear is often classified with an “EH” rating. Electric shock resistant footwear is built into safetytoe styles that meet the Class 75 requirements for impact and compression molded resistance as well as softtoe styles. Shoes with this rating are insulated to help ground electricity from accidental contact with live circuits or electrical equipment and must withstand the application of 14,000 volts at 60 Hz for one minute with no current flow or leakage in excess of 3.0 milliamperes under dry conditions. There can often be a misconception about metal in a boot being bad when working around electricity. The reality is, metal is conductive when it is in contact with other metal. Metal safety toe caps, steel shanks, etc., are enclosed by nonconductive materials (often leather, rubber, insulation etc.) and are therefore safe to wear in environments where live circuits are present. It is also important to select a boot with a rubber outsole that will help to ground any charges during an accident. Rubber outsoles are also long wearing and slip, water and abrasion resistant and will also help to protect the wearer from slips or falls on the job site. Electrical Static Dissipative (ESD) footwear. Boots with this classification are designed for workers operating in environments sensitive to static electricity. Anti-static footwear helps to dissipate the accumulation of static 82 WELDING JOURNAL / DECEMBER 2015 According to recent reports, 80% of all footwear injuries on the job site are caused by an object weighing no more than 30 lb impacting the foot.
Welding Journal | December 2015
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