Posted By Lee Daniels I have recently seen photographs from two incidents when workers have suffered concrete burns to the top of the foot from their footwear splitting at the front of the ankle. One involved a typical safety wellington boot and the other a pair of industrial waiders. The accidents happened at opposite ends of the country with different types and manufacturers of footwear but the position of the split is almost identical. Is there a common problem with wellingtons or waiders splitting at the front of the ankle. I'm initially thinking that the wet concrete is starting to set on the boots as they are working and forcing the boot to split. I hope some of you have more experience of this happening and know what causes this to happen.

Posted By Chris Packham Mick I could not have put it better myself. However, has the message got through to the users? Just take a look at many construction sites and you have to wonder! Yes, it will degrade rubber in time. Also, if it starts to go hard on the rubber it can cause stress fractures, although in my experience the flexibility of the boot means that it tends to fall off. The biggest problem in my experience is ingress via the top of the footwear. Get the workers to wear their trousers outside the wellies! Perhaps not as "sexy" but much safer. Same with other footwear. Take action to prevent ingress. Gaiters can help here. Chris