Innovative Miner Boots with 360° Protection
Despite the existence of strict labour standards regarding safety equipment, nearly one in 10 accidents reported are foot injuries. Since there are multiple risks associated with mining work, it is important to select safety boots that will adequately protect the workers throughout the life of the product.
Working conditions in mines are volatile. Workers have to deal with risks such as landslides, soil erosion, rock spatters, explosions, etc. Extremities, like the feet, are usually more vulnerable, mostly because we pay less attention to them.
Podiatrists of the 20th Century agree that feet are one of the essential elements for balance control and posture. In other words, sore or injured feet can cause many other problems, compromising the safety and the health of a person working in a high-risk environment. Even with features such as steel toes and anti-puncture midsole, some areas of the foot still remain vulnerable.
The metatarsal area, located on the top of the foot, is vulnerable to heavy or blunt objects falling on the foot. External metatarsal protection, already very well-known, offer good shielding, but can be cumbersome and can cause accidents due to its bulkiness. Additionally, they don’t protect the sides of the foot.
On the other hand, most of the internal metatarsal protections, even though they comply with CSA standards, are made of flexible materials that do not offer the same level of protection as the external rigid versions. Again, they do not protect the sides of the foot.
A new system for foot protection
In order to protect the worker against these risks, STC has developed a unique metatarsal protection system, the METATECH® 360° system. This protective system provides an internal rigid metatarsal safety feature without being bulky, and also protects the sides of the foot. Unlike similar metatarsal safety features, the METATECH® 360° system is rigid, internal and certified CSA. All of these benefits come from wearing this innovative footwear.
Made of a composite material, it is light and non-conductive of electricity and heat resistant.
In addition to its rigidity, wings extend onto the sides of the foot which allows for the impact load to spread on a larger surface.
These features considerably reduce the pain and the injuries that such an impact could cause. This technology protects a wider surface of the foot and many bones, joints, ligaments, nerves and muscles in this area of the foot.
Discomfort can cause fatigue, pain and injuries; the METATECH® 360° system was designed to allow the foot to bend normally so as to not create discomfort even after long hours of wearing the boots.
The environment in which workers move and the risks surrounding them are closely linked. It is essential for them to choose safety boots that comply or exceed industry standards, without compromising comfort.
Check out the Hardrock S22006-11 (shown above), which was developed specifically for the mining, and oil and gas industry. It features rigid internal METATECH® 360° protection, as well as a speed lace system, a steel toe protector, and it is CSA certified.
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The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those of Canadian Mining Magazine / Matrix Group Publishing Inc.
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