Footwear Safety Standards: The Ultimate Guide To EN345 | WorkWear Experts

Footwear Safety Standards: The Ultimate Guide To EN345 [Infographic]

We all know and understand the importance of having the right safety footwear in the workplace. Especially those of us that have suffered a foot injury that could be avoided if the proper safety footwear was used. About a quarter of all disability applications in the world are due to foot injuries. That is why all safety footwear has to meet the minimum safety standard set out by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). 

We have put together an ultimate guide to the footwear safety standards - EN ISO 345. 

 

What is EN ISO 20345 / EN345?

 

EN ISO 20345 also known as EN345 is a safety standard that specifies basic and additional (optional) requirements for safety footwear used for general purposes. It includes, for example, mechanical risks, slip resistance, thermal risks, and ergonomic behaviour. Special risks are covered by complementary job-related standards (e.g. footwear for firefighters, electrical insulating footwear, protection against chain saw injuries, protection against chemicals and molten metal splash, protection for motorcycle riders).

The standard is established and issued by the worldwide federation of national standards bodies called the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). 

The latest version of the standard was issued in the year 2011 and it’s called EN ISO 20345:2011. This edition sets more rigorous minimum requirements than previous versions. It specifies that ALL safety footwear must have toe protection, and sets a standard of 200 Joules impact resistance (equivalent to a 20 kg weight dropped 1,020 mm onto the toes) and a 15 KN compression test (equivalent to 1.5 tonnes resting on the toe area).

Footwear Safety Standards Info-graphic  EN ISO 20345 / EN345

 

Categories 

EN ISO 20345 is divided into two categories. Depending on the material that the footwear was made from.  

Class 1 - Leather Upper

-    SB (Safety Basic) = safety toe cap
-    SBP = safety toe cap + pierce resistant midsole
-    S1 = safety toe cap
-    S1P = safety toe cap + pierce resistant midsole
-    S2 = safety toe cap + water repellent upper
-    S3 = safety toe cap + pierce resistant midsole + water repellent upper

All S1, S1P, S2, S3 footwear have to have the following features:
•    Anti-Static - When working, our footwear can build up an electrostatic charge that can then be discharged to the nearest conductor. Working with computers, electrical equipment and medical equipment in some of the areas where electrostatic discharge can have catastrophic results. Footwear with anti-static properties will prevent static build-up.   
•    Shock Absorbing Heel – Designed to absorb/reduce the shock impact on the heel produced by walking or landing. Having the boot with a shock-absorbing heel lowers the risk of potential injury significantly.     
•    Anti-Slip – Slip-Resistant footwear is specially designed to give you the most amount of grip on different surfaces. It is being tested and divided into 3 ways.
    - SRA: Slip resistance on ceramic tile floors with sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS)
    - SRB: Slip resistance on steel floors with glycerol
    - SRC: Includes all characteristics of SRA + SRB
•    Oil & Acid Resistant Soles – Footwear with sole designed to resist oil and/or acid. Must-have properties when working in an area where potential spills of oil or acid could happen.

Class 2 – Rubber/PVC/PU upper

-    S4 = Class 2 footwear with a safety toe cap
-    S5 = Class 2 footwear with a safety toe cap and a pierce resistant midsole

Additional Safety Features

•    Water Repellent Upper (WRU) 
•    Waterproof – The product keeps the wearer dry in extremely wet conditions
•    Metal Free – 100% free of metal parts. Suitable for work in security, aviation and general environments. Usually, the toe cap is made from composite material and the pierce resistant midsole of Kevlar
•    Metatarsal Guard – New internal guard technology that adds a layer of protection to the metatarsal bone area of the wearer’s foot
•    Heat Resistant Outsole (HRO) - an outsole which must be able to resist 300°C for 60 seconds

 

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  • Jul 19, 2021
  • Comments: 4
Comments: 4
Mia Evans 03-08-2022 06:16
I like that you talked about a shock-absorbing heel that would reduce the impact when there is something that lands on your foot. I guess this kind of workwear would also be perfect for the outdoors so that injuries can be prevented. With that in mind, those exposed to the outdoors should invest in buying gear like those to save them from medical expenses and injuries that can alter their life. https://www.montanaarmynavy.com/workwear
Ashikur 26-08-2022 06:04
The Best Steel Toe Boots are designed for practicality, of course. They need to stand up to the adversities of hard physical labor, and keep your bases safe and defended at all times. The sword toe thrills has been guarding bases since the 1930s, and in terms of safety it’s still hard to beat. Aluminum, and ultramodern compound performances may be a little lighter but they nearly always bring further, and don’t have the absolute strength that sword provides. https://bstproductlist.com/best-steel-toe-boots/
Nirashan 19-09-2022 05:28
Footwear Safety Standards: The Ultimate Guide To EN345, PRODUCT price
James 26-09-2022 19:16
Elaborate very concisely about the shoes material and product as well. insulated work boots
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