The workplace is, necessarily, a well-litigated environment. Whether or not a business is public-facing, workplace health and safety is imperative – not just for potential customers, but also for the people that work within it day in, day out. Those legal requirements do more than keep workers at a minimum level of workplace safety. They also ensure businesses can operate at their best, protect their reputation, and ensure they’re at less risk of closure relating to poor safety.
It isn’t just the big things like industrial equipment maintenance that need to be considered. UK employers are losing millions of working days each year due to work-related illness and injury. Small improvements in day-to-day working conditions can have a meaningful impact on performance and productivity, including something as simple as footwear.
Injuries, Absence, and Lost Productivity
Accidents at work, however they manifest, are a serious matter for businesses and their efficacy. Recent figures from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) suggest that 40.1m working days were lost as a result of work-related ill health and non-fatal workplace injuries in the 2024/25 period. Some lost days of work are unavoidable, as a result of the unpredictable nature of seasonal sicknesses. Others are wholly preventable when employers have the right approach to workplace health and safety.
Why Footwear Choice Reduces Slips, Trips and Falls
An excellent example to reinforce this point can be found in slip, trip and fall-related workplace accidents. There are a number of variables to consider, including the existence of hazards and general workplace tidiness, but one small and overlooked consideration is footwear – an important accessory for many, especially those working on-site or in the construction industry.
When thinking about footwear, we first think about the necessity for steel-cap boots to prevent crush risks. However, it is just as important to consider the tread and sole of the shoe, as they can provide the necessary grip to prevent slips. This is why even non-construction workers in industrial environments should wear work safety trainers to improve overall safety and decrease risk.
Standards and Compliance
There is, of course and to no business owner’s surprise, documentation outlining the requirements of appropriate footwear, specifically, ISO standards for commercially-used footwear.
When it comes to compliance and standards, there are a few that need to be met. Footwear is required to protect the wearer from bumps, crushing, falling, or rolling objects, from walking into sharp objects, and from hot or cold substances. Whilst there is a lot to cover, it is necessary.
Practical Steps for Employers
There are also legal expectations employers must meet, out of respect for their employees. Firstly, employers must perform a risk assessment to ascertain which measures are actually necessary in order to protect the workers. Then, if necessary, they may decide to supply work safety shoes themselves to guarantee protection from hazards and keep a cohesive look, which may not be achieved if employees purchase their own footwear.