TESTING HAS REVEALED that a significant amount of safety footwear fails to perform to the standards advertised.

The testing carried out by the British Safety Industry Federation (BSIF) show numerous footwear products on the UK market do not provide the protection they promise.

Footwear Fails Standards

Out of 42 safety footwear just 5 passed the tests covering the regulatory requirements on both product performance claims and on the required supporting documentation.

Safety footwear is used by workers in many industries to protect against a range of hazards including slips, sharp objects, heavy loads, extreme temperatures, and chemicals. It is an essential part of PPE and it is vital that it meets expectations, says BSIF.

BSIF CEO Alan Murray says: “Foot injuries are commonly suffered by workers and it is crucial that all safety footwear is correctly tested and certified to meet the required standards. A significant amount of footwear on the UK market currently is not fit for purpose – including many products that claim to be ‘unbreakable’ or ‘indestructible’ but failed key tests.”

Safety Footwear Regulations

In the UK, safety footwear used at work must comply with regulation (EU) 2016/425. It must follow the relevant approval procedures to qualify for a UKCA or CE mark.

PPE designed to protect against anything more than minor injury is classified as Category II or III. These products must undergo a type-examination by an accredited testing body to ensure they meet their ‘Essential Health and Safety Requirements’ (EHSR).

Category III products, which protect against permanent damage and death, require ongoing, at least annual testing. They should be independently quality assured through either Module C2 Product Verification or Module D Product Quality Assurance.

Manufacturers are obliged to provide a Declaration of Conformity along with user instructions and technical documentation to sell and distribute Category II and III safety footwear in the UK. This demonstrates that products meet all the necessary regulations and safety requirements.

RSSS Tests

The BSIF offers membership of its Registered Safety Supplier Scheme to manufacturers that commit to producing PPE that is fully compliant with all relevant standards and regulations and is appropriately UKCA or CE marked.

The BSIF monitors Registered Suppliers to check they are only selling certified safety products that perform to claims made and meet all responsibilities of Regulation (EU) 2016/425.

In contrast to the failed product tests, of the 108 tests the BSIF carried out on RSSS members’ footwear, 90% met all requirements on product claims and documentation.

RSSS members whose products failed to meet the test criteria were required to rectify issues immediately to remain part of the scheme.

Alan Murray adds: “PPE used at work must carry a UKCA or CE mark that shows the product meets the minimum legal requirement for its design as well as basic requirements for health and safety. Sadly, non-compliant and, on occasions, even counterfeit products are on the rise. We advise anyone responsible for buying and specifying safety footwear to look for the RSSS shield to help keep their staff safe and healthy in the workplace.”

A full list of registered suppliers is available on the BSIF website.

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