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What are your thoughts on how often replacement safety shoes should be offered?
They are worn in daily use in small, non-mechanised warehouses. We provide the staff with a basic, S1 safety shoe or boot which they can either accept or they can buy their own and we will re-imburse them the value of the basic pair. Accepting that as an employer we have a duty to provide and replace when necessary, we expect the employee to maintain them in an efficient state.
So at roughly what age would you switch from 'they're no good 'cause you haven't looked after them' to 'they're worn out and due replacement'?
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Rank: Super forum user 
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No age - either they are too worn and need to be replaced, or they are not!
How can they wear them out other then by wearing them?
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Rank: Forum user 
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We provide combined slip resistant soles and steel toe caps to our staff as we visit a variety of sites where different hazards are present.
Some wear them all the time, some take them with them and change into them and, looking at the condition of some of them it's questionable they wear them at all and yes some have sweatier feet than others! That said some people are also heavier on their feet than others and looking at the pattern of wear on the soles some must have a very peculiar walk.
We set a 2 year time limit for replacement 'review' - if not necessary at that time thereafter 6 monthly till replaced. They all have the option of coming forward for replacements before that time.
Never thought of refusing anyone wanting to replace them due to their lack of care - not sure how I'd be able to demonstrate that to back up the refusal. If I did refuse we'd have to revise risk assessments and look at where they could go and what other work they could do without the need to wear safety shoes - don't think that would be sustainable for us
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Rank: Super forum user
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Hi Kate,
My point was that they can be rendered unfit by lack of care before they are worn out.
AJB,
I certainly wouldn't refuse to replace them, I'm just trying to gauge how long people would expect a pair to last under those conditions.
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Rank: Forum user
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I work in a bakery and we expect/encourage that safety shoes last for a minimum of 12 months (including our warehouse employees). We understand that some people will require replacement sooner and we just exchange them if required.
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Rank: Super forum user
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But what are they doing to them (or not doing to them) to make them unfit and how do you know this is the cause?
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Rank: Super forum user
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Hi Kate,
I was thinking along the lines of cracked and split leather caused by the shoes never having seen polish since they left the factory.
Sole wear I can accept.
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Rank: Super forum user 
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Smurf
We work on 2 yr replacement cycle and only replace if the employee feels the shoe/boot needs replacing due to wear. That way there is not a massive bill all in one go.
Badger
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Rank: Super forum user 
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Safety Smurf wrote:Hi Kate,
My point was that they can be rendered unfit by lack of care before they are worn out.
AJB,
I certainly wouldn't refuse to replace them, I'm just trying to gauge how long people would expect a pair to last under those conditions.
I think you answered your own question, if they are damaged and not fit for purpose then change.
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Rank: Forum user
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Maintaining work shoes or boots in an efficient state I think may require at least 2 pairs of different style footwear.
Footwear, to optimise it's service life should be dried naturally and not with forced heat. If they are getting wet it is simply not pssible to look after them properly and extend their service life if they are worn every day. They will not be dry enough to apply polish and buff every day and it's rather unfair to expect personnel to get up earlier to polish their footwear for work, particualrly if they start very early.
From an orthopaedic point of view the same footwear shouldn;t be worn every day so that the feet can exercise in more degrees of freedom.
If there are no lockers for personnel they may also have to wear work footwear to travel to and from work.
I thnk safety footwear isn't necessary in many situations where it is mandated (not stating this one) by H&S people with cookie cutter policies, Where is the sense in almost guaranteeing orthopaedic injury and increasing wearer fatigue when there may be a very low risk of dropping light objects.
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Rank: Forum user
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In a Works environment in the public estate, we work on a entitlement for a change after 12 months though if they become damaged or rendered unsuitable, then they can be replaced at any time. Having said that, I wear safety shoes from a well known source daily & polish them regularly. At 15 months old, my current pair have about 4 months reasonable wear in them. Care, personal hygiene and a normal gait are the main factors that will determine the life of any footwear. Shoes are not designed for casual slouching or slurring of feet and should be correctly fastened, not with the laces left undone. There is no specific timeframe for replacement, though setting an expected duration may focus the users' minds on correct usage to prolong their life.
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Rank: Forum user
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Safety Smurf wrote:Hi Kate,
I was thinking along the lines of cracked and split leather caused by the shoes never having seen polish since they left the factory.
Sole wear I can accept.
So I take it you provide brushes and polish or dubbin?
Do you give your staff time to use the aforementioned items as part of their working day?
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Rank: Super forum user
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Dazzling Puddock wrote:Safety Smurf wrote:Hi Kate,
I was thinking along the lines of cracked and split leather caused by the shoes never having seen polish since they left the factory.
Sole wear I can accept.
So I take it you provide brushes and polish or dubbin?
Do you give your staff time to use the aforementioned items as part of their working day?
No we don't and we're not going to! The policy has now been altered to allow for premature wear caused by complete and utter lack of care and pride in appearence!
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Rank: Super forum user 
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Safety smurf - I can see where you are coming from but fear you are on a bit of a 'hiding to nothing'. Me? I like to whack a bit of polish on, if only to make them look smarter! OMG too many years in the service of her Majesty I think!
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