How workers can reduce strain and avoid injuries to their feet in 2022

It’s challenging for workers to reduce foot strain when walking and standing all day. A workers’ heel lands on the floor with a force of 1-1/2 to 2 times their body weight. The impact of a full day of standing and walking on the body is equivalent to the weight of a cement mixer truck. The cumulative effect can cause microscopic trauma and joint compression that leads to foot strain and injury.

If your workers are on their feet for more than 4 hours per day here are a few things you can do to help mitigate their risk of strain and injury:

• Have workers who are primarily standing, take short breaks and move/walk to increase blood circulation in their legs.
• Encourage workers to stand with one foot in front of another. This allows them to alternate back and forth with one foot resting and the other foot supporting.
• Make work surfaces height-adjustable to allow for both standing and sitting and to accommodate people of different heights.
• Make sure workers wear good-fitting safety footwear with good quality midsole cushioning. This helps provide a barrier between the foot and the work surface.
• Encourage workers to wear insoles, which provide important arch support and additional shock absorption. Also, ensure that workers are wearing CSA certified safety shoes as required by law.

For more information on symptoms and treatments of foot pain and strains check out this information from the Canadian Orthopaedic Association.

At Mister Safety Shoes, we are committed to helping workers get the best fitting, most comfortable safety shoes and work boots, so they remain productive and protected. We provide an end-to-end safety footwear management program for all sizes of businesses in Ontario and Alberta. Please contact our business solutions team if you are looking for a safety footwear program for your company.