Why The Need for Different Styles of Safety Footwear
One of the questions we field multiple times on a daily basis is “What is the cheapest safety boot you have available”. For years a grudge spend with many companies needing to simply comply to safety standards. The mindset is, a boot is a boot is a boot and budgets have been set for the cheapest product available.
Whilst price is important, the wrong boot placed in the wrong work environment can become a safety hazard and a very expensive injury or liability. Different sites have different risks. As we educate safety officers and procurement managers around Southern Africa; I have begun calling this the “bird sanctuary mentality”. As all you hear is “cheep-cheep, cheep-cheep”. Selling a cheap boot simply because you want an order and a sale, is not something safety footwear experts allow or accept.
Which Safety Boot Should I Pick?
Most companies believe all safety shoes and boots are manufactured exactly the same way, from exactly the same materials, and all have the same functionality and features. This is the worst misconception in the safety footwear industry. It’s important to solve problems, not only sell products. And this is the reason our range comprises of 22 different safety boots and safety shoes for both men and women. We cater for an entry level econo (short term contractors), the mid-range bulk purchase, the specialist need and the top end heavy duty style. Various grades of leather, altering leather substance, variations in water repellent properties, scuff resistance, longevity of the sole, variance in heat resistance, puncture resistant properties, flexibility of the sole (check our blog post on different sole compounds for more information on this), lace up or slip-on, height of ankle protection, different grades of biomechanical footbeds and innersoles, resistance to oils, acids, petrol and diesel, higher levels of slip ratings, chemical resistant ratings, suitability for welding and metatarsal guard protection.
The Right Safety Boot For The Right Job
Every risk in one’s work environment needs to be addressed to find out which boot meets the minimum standard required in that particular work environment. Some companies have up to 4 or 5 different needs within their own company. One boot most certainly doesn’t fit all work environments when it comes to safety footwear. Otherwise every company would only sell 1 boot and 1 shoe style. We make different boots suited for different work environments aimed predominantly at the food and beverage industry, road laying, chemical manufacture, engineering, construction, mining, warehousing, automotive, agriculture and different departments in municipality.
Quality Safety Shoes – You Get What You Pay For
Going the cheapest route, 90% of the time results in having to buy each employee 3 or 4 pairs of boots a year. Giving safety footwear and safety footwear brands a negative reputation. This is unfortunately unfounded. Because cheap boots are purchased for an entire workforce for R275 per pair. Where, if assessed and recommended, one could find a suitable product fit for that environment which carries a 1 year manufacturing warranty for R600 per pair. Penny wise, pound foolish. The right boot would end up being more cost effective in the long run and last for longer. Ultimately in this example saving the company more than R500 per employee over a financial year. It pays to make smarter decisions earlier on and allow professionals to assist your choice making.
Let The Safety Boot Experts Guide You
ProFit Safety Footwear has a highly experienced team and we only work with distributors who like to offer solutions, not just collect orders and move boxes. Why use an entry level boot with laces when your company specialises in welding? Why use a safety shoe with exposed metals on the upper when you work in the automotive sector? And why use a boot that only has a 90 degree heat resistance if you are laying road (bitumen/tar) or working in a smelter? Choose the right product from the beginning and allow us to help stop making safety footwear a grudge spend. The experts are here to help.
Contact the team today to get advice on the best design and style of safety shoe for your work environment – info@profitfootwear.co.za or give us a call on +27 11 892 8030
