Did you know that the foot and ankle contain 26 bones, 33 joints and more than 100 muscles, tendons and ligaments? By time you are an adult, you will have 206 bones in your body, so in comparison, just over 25% of the bones in your body are in your ankles and feet alone. Your feet are a critical part of your body and in some cases, enable you to do your job effectively. You must ensure that the feet are comfortable and protected; accomplished through proper footwear.
Potential risks to your ankle or feet include:
- Crushed or broken bones in ankle or foot (caused by caught between objects, fallen objects or equipment).
- Puncture of sole of the foot (caused by nails, sharp metals or glass).
- Lacerations to ankle or foot (caused by machinery).
- Burns (caused by metal or chemical splashes, contact with fire or flammable materials).
- Slip, trip or fall resulting in sprained or twisted ankles (caused by slippery floors, littered walkways, incorrect footwear, poor lighting).
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2014 there were almost 113,000 cases of foot and ankle related injuries that resulted in days away from work. How many of these could be prevented?
What should you look for when buying proper footwear? According to the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety:
- The shoe must grip the heel firmly.
- The toe cap or box must allow for freedom of movement for the toes.
- The shoe must have a fastening across the instep to prevent the foot from slipping when walking.
- The shoe should have a low wide based heel, unless utilizing a ladder then a defined heal should be used.
Some other things to consider when buying footwear:
- Do not expect that footwear that is too tight will necessarily stretch with wear.
- Have both feet measured when buying shoes and try on both shoes.
- Consider using shock-absorbing insoles when the job requires walking or standing on hard floors.
Ensure that you have the proper footwear for the environment you are working in and follow the work site safety policies. If you are unsure, please ask a supervisor or your safety professional.
The Safety Moment bulletin is a periodic communication on safety issues from the G4S Americas Safety Group.
