| Safety footwear and workwear has become an | | | | frequently. Without safety footwear, there |
| unavoidable part of life for many dangerous | | | | would undoubtedly be far more instances of |
| professions, particularly in light of | | | | protruding nails penetrating feet, and |
| increasingly strict health and safety at work | | | | crushed toes from heavy weight. If not for |
| laws. Wherever you turn there is a tradesman | | | | properly supported, solid safety footwear, |
| in a high visibility jacket, or a | | | | these regular accidents would be far more |
| construction worker with safety boots and | | | | severe, and cause far more problems for the |
| thick leather gloves. This has also given | | | | employees concerned. |
| rise to a massive market for commercially | | | | |
| orientated safety workwear and footwear, | | | | Similarly consider a workman on a highway |
| which thrives on the requirements of these | | | | carrying out essential maintenance through |
| industries. But is safety footwear really | | | | the night. Without a quality high visibility |
| essential in dangerous trades, and do we | | | | jacket, this kind of job would be made |
| really need safety workwear in any line of | | | | considerably more dangerous, and it is |
| work? | | | | essential that visibility is maintained |
| | | | throughout to avoid motor accidents and |
| Safety footwear and workwear has grown in | | | | disruption. Or how about working with |
| popularity over the last several decades as | | | | chemicals? Is it important to have safety |
| trade and employment become more and more | | | | footwear and workwear in this kind of |
| government regulated. With a paradigm shift | | | | scenario? |
| towards safety and caring for employees | | | | |
| rather than maximising profits, a huge | | | | The list is endless. Safety footwear and |
| demand has been created for protective | | | | workwear is designed for the sole purpose of |
| clothing and garments in the work | | | | protecting the wear in dangerous situations, |
| environment. From architects to zoologists, | | | | whether directly or indirectly as in the case |
| the demand for safety clothing has spiralled | | | | of the high visibility jacket. On top of the |
| to such a degree that even mainstream | | | | safety advantages, these garments also help |
| manufacturers like Puma and Adidas have | | | | ensure you don't ruin your ordinary clothes |
| launched protective lines to enter the | | | | in the course of employment, providing a |
| market. | | | | duality of benefit that makes them essential |
| | | | to own for those involved in dangerous or |
| All this begs the questions 'how useful is | | | | risky trades such as construction, or any |
| all this safety-conscious footwear and | | | | form of dangerous manual labour. |
| workwear?' As compared to a regular pair of | | | | |
| shoes or boots, safety footwear is | | | | Safety wear has become an increasingly |
| specifically designed to protect the feet in | | | | popular choice for many, and a necessity for |
| dangerous environments. Take your average | | | | employers working above the law in recent |
| building site for example. A construction | | | | years. But it's not just a necessity in legal |
| site is a dangerous playground filled with | | | | terms. It is also essential for the |
| bricks, heavy timber, nails, concrete, | | | | protection and prevention of injury to |
| lethal machinery. In this type of environment | | | | employees, and practically speaking, for the |
| accidents do happen, and they happen | | | | avoidance of legal action. |