Means of protection against electric current
Metal shoe toe - a classic method of protecting feet among workers. When it comes to impact protection, steel socks are the winner. They have been around for many years and are used in many industries.
Composite type of elevation – a new form of protective footwear. This type of protection is provided by non-metallic materials. The most common composite safety footwear uses carbon fiber, fiberglass, or plastic.
Both types of safety shoes have their pros and cons. Metal toe shoes are safe because they can withstand a lot of pressure, slightly more than composite safety shoes.
Composite safety shoes are good because they are light and comfortable, although they are more expensive to manufacture. Unlike metal, the composite is not prone to corrosion and conducts heat much worse. Staying in such shoes for a long time is much more comfortable.
There are several types of composite trays:
- Reinforced with Kevlar threads to increase strength;
- With perforation - the strength of the product decreases slightly, but the comfort significantly increases, as the shoes remain dry from the inside.
Steel safety shoes is more traditional. Some people argue that composite safety shoes are more practical because they are made of non-metallic materials. Safety shoes with a steel toe are not recommended for use in environments with aggressive temperatures, because it is very easy to frostbite or burn the feet protected by metal protection. In addition, the ability of coasters to be magnetized can play an evil joke with people who work with high voltage or flammable materials - metal is a good conductor of electricity, including static electricity.
| Protective metal trays |
Composite trays materials |
| maximum impact load (MUN) 200 joules; | maximum impact load (MUN) 200 joules; |
| small volume due to thin protection walls; | large volume, which requires adequate space inside the shoe; |
| heavy weight: steel-200 g/pair, aluminum-140 g/pair; | low weight: composite with reinforcement with Kevlar threads - 120 g/pair, composite without reinforcement - 100 g/pair; |
| low price; | high price; |
| there is practically no possibility of moisture drainage due to the lack of perforation; | the structure allows the use of ventilation holes; |
| there is a danger of severe injuries and amputations at loads exceeding the MUN; | under loads of more than 200 J, the tray breaks into small parts, which does not cause high risks; |
| do not protect against cold, high temperatures and can be magnetized; | heat and cold resistant due to low thermal conductivity; are not magnetized; |
| steel is subject to corrosion; | are not subject to corrosion. |
