Part 2 – Know your features

[HAIX Footwear UK]

Part 2 – Know your features

 

In part 2 of this series on safety footwear standards, we highlight the importance of understanding the safety standards that shape your forestry footwear. Here we look at the specific features one would typically find in a forestry boot and why they are important.

 

Class Features & Benefits

 

SB Safety basic, 200 joules Toe Protection, Oil Resistant outer sole. (Minimum Requirement).

 

In forestry, working at height and with heavy objects is part of the daily routine, and so toe protection is essential. This is the basic standard required for safety boots, showing that the outer sole is resistant to oil and can withstand a 200 joule impact.

 

SBP As SB plus Mid-Sole for penetration resistance.

 

Sharp objects in the great outdoors (that could include forestry equipment) pose a significant safety risk. Boots listed as SBP follow the same standards as the basic safety boot (shown above) but also come with mid-sole protection for penetration resistance.

S1 As SB plus Anti-Static properties and fully enclosed Energy Absorbing heel area.

 

Anyone who has had an electrostatic shock from a piece of clothing will know that this type of static charge energy can build up elsewhere in the body. S1 certified boots benefit from all of the features of an SB boot, as well as boasting anti-static properties. S1 boots also benefit from a fully enclosed energy absorbing heel, enabling you to be more comfortable when on the go.

 

S1P As S1 plus Mid-Sole for penetration resistance.

As with SBP, S1P provides all of the protection found in S1 certified boots but with additional mid-sole protection.

 

S2 As S1 plus water resistant upper and absorption.

 

S2 certified boots offer an upper with resistance to water penetration and absorption; a must have for anyone working outdoors in the UK!

 

S3 As S2 plus Mid-Sole for penetration resistance and cleated outsole.

 

The most common non-fatal injuries in the agriculture, forestry and fishing sector according 2015-16 HSE statistics were slips and trips. The S3 standard includes mid-sole protection against penetration and a cleated outsole. Cleated outsoles are external protrusions or studs on the sole of the boot that provide additional traction on soft or slippery surface. This is especially useful when working in wet or icy conditions as you can then be confident that your steps will be sturdy and unaffected by slips or trips,

S4 200 joules Toe Protection. All rubber or polymer construction (waterproof). Anti-Static properties, Energy Absorbing heel area.

 

Boots certified to an S4 standard are made of 100 % rubber or polymer making them waterproof and leak proof.

 

S5 As S4 plus Mid-Sole for penetration resistance and cleated outsole.

 

The S5 standard offers the same benefits of an S4 boot with the added mid-sole protection against penetration and a cleated outsole for additional traction on soft or slippery surfaces.

 

We hope our guide will prove useful for when you’re choosing your next pair of forestry boots. The standards outlined in this two part series are just some of the ones you might come across, so if there is anything else you need to know, please feel free to get in touch with the HAIX UK team who will be happy to help you.

 

For more information on HAIX and its footwear, please visit haix.co.uk or your nearest distributor.