Workplace Safety Tips For Working On Concrete Floors

Hard floors (often concrete) are common in many working environments, from factories and warehouses to retail shops, hospitals and more. The reality, however, is that a hard concrete floor takes a toll on the body due to its inflexibility. Workplace safety is important so workers who stand and walk on hard concrete floors for long periods of time can end up with sore feet, swollen legs and  knee and back pain. Over time, workers may suffer from chronic pain and workplace injury. MSDs (Musculoskeletal Disorders) are the #1 category of lost-time work injury reported to the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) . So it’s important to take steps to protect those working on hard surfaces. Here are some workplace safety tips to reduce the risks.

Look For These Safety Footwear Features

First and foremost, quality footwear is a must, especially when spending a lot of time on hard surfaces. It is important to try them on to ensure that they are the correct size and fit.  Look for safety footwear with shock absorbing footbeds and cushioned midsoles.  You don’t see midsoles because they are area between the sole of the shoe and bottom of the footbed. So cushioning here is what workers are actually standing on day in and day out. There has been a lot of advances in cushioning  to help make them lightweight while providing stability – which reduces foot fatigue. One of the newest are the Reebok Work’s Fusion Flexweave line of athletic safety shoes with a floatride energy foam midsole, perfect for standing and walking on hard surfaces.

 

Consider Insoles

Those who spend a lot of time on concrete floors consider adding insoles, especially if they have low arches or flat feet. They provide an additional layer of comfort and, importantly, additional arch support. And when the arch is supported it helps to align the whole body and reduce strain.

Frequently Change Positions

When working on hard concrete floors, it is important to alter your positions as much as possible to reduce the impact of repeated strain on the same parts of the body.

Rotate And Replace Footwear

Wearing the same shoes or boots every day can cause foot discomfort. Instead, rotate between a couple of different pairs of safety shoes where possible. It is also important that you replace your shoes whenever there are signs of wear that affect the integrity of the safety shoe or work boot.

Find out more information on reducing strain and workplace injury  from standing from the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health & Safety Working in a Standing Position – Basic Information : OSH Answers (ccohs.ca)

 

About Us

Mister Safety Shoes believes that by providing the best fitting and supportive safety footwear, workers will be able to remain more focused and productive and be less likely to suffer from strains and pain that can lead to workplace injury.