What does European steel toe mean?

However, breathability isn’t all this shoe brings to the table. And last but not least, for safety, it has European steel toes, a puncture-resistant sole made from military-grade kevlar, and shock-absorbing cushioning in the midsole.

What is safety rating S1 P SRA?

This is where the ratings get a little more complex. The S1 rating essentially means that on top of the safety features offered by SB footwear, you also get the features of A, E, and FO. So, as well as toe protection, you get antistatic protection, an energy absorbent heel, and a fuel oil resistant outer sole.

What is the difference between S2 and S3 safety shoes?

S2 has all the same protection as S1, plus the added protection of preventing water penetration and absorption of the upper. S3 safety footwear encompasses all the same levels of protection as S2, plus midsole penetration resistance.

What is the standard for safety footwear in Europe?

The current standard for Safety Footwear across Europe (EN) is EN ISO 20345:2011. This was updated in 2011 to make it stricter. Under this standard, all safety footwear must now have toe protection against a 200 joule impact.

When do safety shoes need to be made?

It specifies that ALL safety footwear must have toe protection, and sets a standard of 200-joules impact-resistance (equivalent to a 20kg weight dropped 1,020mm onto the toes) and a 15KN compression test (equivalent to 1.5 tonnes resting on the toe area). All safety footwear manufactured after the 31st July 2013 must meet this standard.

What does EN ISO stand for in terms of safety?

The two EN ISO standards cover different protection classes. You may have seen terms like “S2 Certified” or “OB Certified”. This merely refers to the extent of a hazard to which the shoe protects against. So, let’s decode. As the name suggests, this is the basic safety standard for footwear.

Who is responsible for providing the correct safety shoes?

Employers are legally responsible for providing the correct footwear as part of the Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992. We understand that it can be confusing to decide which safety shoes are suitable for your workers, so we’ve put together this guide to explain the most important safety footwear standard. What is EN ISO 20345?