Amblers Safety

Amblers Safety Footwear Types

Amblers Safety Heavy Duty
Heavy duty boots are engineered for hazardous worksites with predominantly outdoor environments where workers are exposed to all sorts of weather conditions and terrains. Footwear requirements may include temperature resistant soles, puncture resistant footwear, and/or water penetration resistant leather uppers.

Amblers Safety Light Duty
Light duty safety boots are designed for both indoor and outdoor environments on a variety of work surfaces. These tend to be lightweight footwear with toe protection. Amblers Safety gives the choice of functional boots as well as those with casual style or formal footwear that meet all the safety requirements necessary.

Amblers Safety Service
Amblers Safety service footwear tends to be shoes, trainers or ankle boots with toe protection that offer the wearer all day comfort. The soles would need to offer a good level of slip-resistance for all types of surfaces.

Footwear Options

Water Resistance – If you are likely to be in areas exposed to harsh outdoor weather conditions on a daily basis we recommend footwear with a rating of W/P which means that the footwear is lined with a breathable, waterproof liner which prevents water penetrating through to the footwell. If you work in predominantly indoor environments which may include some minor outdoor work with light rainfall you may be happier with a water-resistant upper marked with a rating WR.

Heat Resistance – If you are likely to be exposed to flames we recommend a boot with a heat resistant outsole of at least 300°C. Some of our more specialist footwear has special features such as quick release mechanisms.

Underfoot Protection – If you work hazardous conditions where there is likely to be risks of hazards penetrating the underfoot, we recommend footwear with midsole protection with a penetration resistance of 1100 Newtons. Safety categories S3 and S5 feature a penetration resistant sole. However, if you do not require all the safety features in these categories SB, S1 and S2 may also include a safety midsole if it has the marking P.

Energy Absorbing Heel – A good choice of footwear ensures all day comfort, particularly if you are on harsh surfaces or wearing the footwear all day. Footwear with energy absorbing qualities in the heel strike area reduces the level of impact on the joints. Footwear with a rating of SB-E and S1 and above features heel energy absorption of 20 joules.

Underfoot Cut Resistance – If you work in environments where there is a risk from sharp objects we recommend footwear with TPU outsoles, nitrile rubber outsoles as well as vulcanised nitrile soles as these soles provide a high degree of cut resistance. You may also wish to have midsole protection within these industries.

Slip Resistance – One of the largest risk within the workplace comes from slips and trips. This can be caused by inappropriate footwear and the surface which you are working on. Amblers Safety footwear go through strict slip testing procedures where they are tested on a range of surfaces with slippery solutions applied. There are three ratings, the first rating is SRA which means it has been tested to be slip resistant on a ceramic wetted tile contaminated with a diluted soap solution and passed. The next option is SRB where the footwear has passed a slip test on a smooth steel surface contaminated with a dilute soap solution. The highest of these ratings is SRC which means it passes both SRA and SRB standards. If you work on a range of floor surfaces where there is particular risk of slips, or hazards from spills, Amblers Safety recommend footwear with this rating to ensure highest protection.

Hygiene – Water-repelling uppers have a special coating which repels water and solutions and allows the footwear to be wiped clean. Water-repellent footwear is marked SB-WR, S1-WR, S2, S3, S4 or S5.

Standing – Workers who are required to spend too much time on their feet are at a risk of pain and discomfort around their feet, legs, hips and lower back. There are a number of qualities you can look for in footwear to assist with pressure points. Look for footwear with an energy absorbing heel (rated SB-E, or S1 and above). How the sole is created can provide cushioning comfort through the day. A Rubber/EVA (also known as rubber/phylon) sole is created by injecting compressed ethylene vinyl acetate into a mould, which allows for light, flexible and resilient cushioning as well as providing a hardwearing rubber outer sole. Dual density PU has a similar effect by allowing for a harder outer layer of polyurethane and a softer inner layer to ensure comfort and durability. Rubber can also be combined with polyurethane in the midsole to offer cushioning comfort. Look also for padded collars and padded tongues at pressure points on the footwear. When picking footwear, allow for plenty of wiggle room in the forefoot and allow space for a removable cushioning insole (some footwear already has this provided), and space for workwear socks with dual density cushioning at the toe and heel.