Maintain your safety boots and they will look after you
Taking care of your safety boots should be second nature for those people who spend their working days in potentially hazardous environments. Always check and clean the soles, making sure that there are no cracks or penetrations evident and no object are lodged in the tread. Wear should also be monitored with replacement safety boots required when they become damaged or worn beyond the manufacturers’ tolerances. Cleaning should follow the specific instructions supplied with the safety boots as some chemical cleaners will diminish the boots’ protective capabilities and may indeed contribute to damage or rotting of the seams. If you are in any doubt, you should always refer to your employer for advice and insist that they take appropriate action should you feel that the quality of your safety boots has been affected in any way. It is their duty to provide appropriate personal protective equipment and replace it when necessary but you have a duty to report defects as they occur. Always work on the principle that it is better to be safe than sorry where your personal health and safety is concerned.