If there is one thing you need to know about safety boots and the law it is this: The Occupational Health and Safety Act is clear that South African employers must provide employees with relevant safety equipment including: “suitable goggles, spectacles, face shields, welding shields, visors, hard hats, protective helmets, caps, gloves, gauntlets, aprons, jackets, capes, sleeves, leggings, spats, gaiters, protective footwear, protective overalls, or any similar safety equipment or facility of a type that will effectively prevent bodily injury.”
That means that, there is a legal onus on the employer to ensure that the appropriate safety footwear is provided, in cases that safety footwear will provide suitable protection for employees.
Official guidelines are helpful in understanding the level of protection afforded by a safety boot.
To ensure adequate workplace PPE is met, it is crucial to purchase safety boots that conform to the relevant safety standard, such as the widely adopted ISO 20345 standard for safety footwear.
It is important to note that these universal standards also assists in quickly identify the level and manner of protection required (for example, whether the safety boots in question offer midsole penetration resistance and/or are waterproof).
Complying with workplace PPE regulations isn’t simply a question of stocking up on safety gear. Different tasks and applications will have different safety requirements.
If you’re looking to buy safety gear in bulk, you need to ensure that you have access to a wide range of styles, cuts, and safety levels so that you can provide your workforce with the safety boots that meet their individual needs, while also complying with all relevant legislation.
To navigate South Africa’s sometimes complex labour safety regulations and to understand precisely which work boots are best suited for specific applications, you’ll need expert advice.
Kaliber is a specialist supplier of safety boots designed to meet the rigorous safety requirements of the South African workplace. Get in touch with Kaliber today for expert guidance on finding the perfect work boot for every industry and to find out where you can easily purchase Kaliber boots.
