Page 6 - Insulating Footwear

THE SCIENCE OF SLIP
There are two slip resistance tests specified in EN ISO 20345:2011 (with the method described in EN13287); the first is soapy water (Sodium Lauryl Suphate solution) on a ceramic tile. If the footwear passes this test then the boot can be marked SRA. The second is oil (Glycerol) on a steel plate, if the boot passes this test then it can be marked SRB. If a boot passes both the SRA and SRB test then it can be marked SRC.
There is a common misunderstanding that SRC is the best for slip resistance - this is not the case! Since the introduction of slip testing, accidents caused by slips have not reduced; this is because to pass the slip requirements on oily steel manufacturers have to sacrifice some slip performance in water, but most slip accidents occur where water is the contaminant (over 95%).
The SRB test (oil on steel) has a very low pass/fail limit and the
error in measurement is +/- 50%. The pass value is so low that the probability of a fall in this environment is still high. Because of this it is expected that in the next revision of EN ISO 20345 the SRB test will be significantly changed and SRC removed.
The WorkmasterTM vulcanised rubber sole produces very high levels of slip resistance with soapy water on a ceramic tile, and these test results have been confirmed during customer wear tests. Due to
the performance characteristics of the sole material, boots with our vulcanised rubber sole also achieve a pass on the SRB (oil on steel test), without compromising SRA performance and are marked SRC.
BENEFITS OF A VULCANISED RUBBER SOLE
Over 30% of industrial accidents result from slips, trips and falls - as WorkmasterTM boots are frequently used in environments where there are liquids present a slip resistant sole is crucial, which is why we provide the option of a high-performance vulcanised rubber sole on our boots.
This provides a number of important benefits:
Slip resistance is twice that required by EN 13287 SRA and SATRA TM144 standards
Grip is 30% better than with a conventional safety boot sole
Wear resistance is 2 to 3 times that of conventional soles
Non marking vulcanised nitrile rubber compound
The sole is resistant to fuel and oil
Greater cut resistance than conventional soles
Resistant to hot contact for 60 seconds at 3000C
Cold insulation
06 DIELECTRIC FOOTWEAR FOR LIVE WORKING