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Posted By IanS
We supply safety boots & shoes to our workforce and stock a range of sizes but only 1 style of boot and shoe. The vast majority of people have no complaints but a small number (females in the main) have requested different styles so that their feet “feel more comfortable”. Have others had this problem and if so how can it be overcome? I am tempted to provide a specification and to tell them to purchase their own at their expense!
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Posted By David Gault
We have had similar problems and spoken to various suppliers about it. There are genuine physiological differences with women's feet apparently (though that doesn't entirely explain why one of our ladies has 70 different pairs of shoes at home!.
There are many options. We supply a couple of didfferent styles as stock for our employees and allow them to buy others that cost more if they contribute to the cost. We also buy in any footwear recommended by our Occ. Health Dept. for anyone with genuine foot problems.
No doubt other will provide equally valid suggestions.
I hope that helps.
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Posted By Melanie Fellows
I am allowed (+ have been at every company I've ever worked at), to buy a pair of safety shoes from the ladies range.
I wouldn't expect any of the men I work with to wear women's shoes (what they choose to do in their own time is their own concern!), but I am not a man so I will not wear men's shoes.
I can't see any issue in choosing one style & stocking it in a few sizes (as you would with the other sort).
Mel
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Posted By Ucan
Have you thought of buying insoles for the footwear, we actually did this at my previous company and it worked well.
We did not broadcast the fact though but those who did have a problem with shoes/boots being too hard on their feet so to speak were issued with cushioned insoles.
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Posted By IanS
Thanks for the suggestions thus far. The main problem appears to be a lack of width. We have tried several styles of ladies safety shoes but to no avail. Buying more expensive shoes also doesn't overcome the problem - it's the fit (or percieved fit) that is the issue.
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Posted By Melanie Fellows
I'm with you now - for those people with more 'specific' needs, I provide the specification and an amount of money allowed, they buy the footwear & then claim back up to the allowance value on expenses (any extra, they pay the difference themself).
Mel
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Posted By Mike Foulds
We are a warehouse operation and have a right old mix of staff, we offer several different styles, sizes and fitting of shoes, some boots style, some trainer style.
It does a lot of good for staff moral when they are happy with what they are wearing.
We have a rule that says that staff can only wear company supplied footwear, that way we control the safety features of the footwear, sole, grip, steel mid-sole, chemical resistance the list goes on...
Staff supplying there own means you do not have that control...people turn up in Doc Martins or rigger boots, poor soles or its starts to turn into a brand fashion show.
Our uniform supplier is excellent (not advertising so cant put the name or phone number) drop me a mail if you want their details.
They have produced a catalog that the staff can choose from just with the range available to them both ladies fit and gents, its quick delivery and if sizing is an issue we order two different sizes and return or keep the ones that do not fit.
As the meerkat says 'simples'
Mike
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Posted By Pete Longworth
My experience has been that the more styles you offer, the more some people will want. At my current place of work we offer a limited range of 2 male 2 female, but like a previous poster we also offer gel filled insoles. The insoles were provided following numerous complaints from staff in a particular department who were on their feet for most of a 12 hour shift on concrete floors. We tried different styles but the insoles proved to be the most popular option. At a few quid a pair it was well worth it.
At my previous post we offered a wide range of choices and had no end of complaints that the various styles weren't suitable. Some people tried every style, wearing them for a couple of weeks before rejecting them. A very costly exercise.
My advice is limit the range and try the insoles for those with genuine problems backed up by medical evidence.
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Posted By Swis
How would an insole, adjust someone’s foot in a shoe which is either too thin or to thick (wide). Not having a ‘good fit’ shoes in itself is a hazard.
The law requires to provide 'appropriate' PPE not just 'any' PPE.
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Posted By Mike Foulds
We have had poor experiences with insoles as they can lift the foot within the shoe or boot and then your toes rub on the top of the toe protection causing pain and blisters.
A good fitting pair of shoes with no added bits is the best policy.
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Posted By Bob Youel
Just a comment
I went to a major PPE provider recently and was told that they no longer sell half sizes [shoes]as stock so you have to have what they have readily available e.g. its to big or its to small1 or wait until an order is processed but they did not seem interested in processing the order they were only interested in selling stock items!
This is a sample of business selling only what they want to sell and using the '1 size fits all approach' thus making it harder to comply with the PPE regs
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Posted By Ron Hunter
Even simpler if you don't keep any stock. Identify and communicate to your people a suitable range from a reputable supplier who can give you good delivery times.
Remember that the duty is with the employer to ensure a proper assessment of all PPE, which is most difficult to control when you let employees source their own!
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Posted By BethR
Our guys have a choice of 4 pairs of boots, if they want something else they can go and choose them in their own time, and they pay any additional costs to their allowance.
I go into the shop and pick my own and therefore i can make sure they fit. if your looking for safety boots i would recommend the female doc martin range.
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Posted By PL
We use a well known supplier.
We have a standard range on site. If people complain that these are either uncomfortable or are causing issues, we send them to the local branch of the supplier who has the full range and have them fitted.
On one or two occasions, that has not been enough and on OH's advice we have had shoes/boots fitted.
Everyone knows the system and as far as I'm aware it is not abused with 95% of staff using the ones freely available from stores.
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