Working Safely Today

TOMORROW IS YOUR REWARD FOR WORKING SAFELY TODAY

BY MARYAM FARAG

Does footwear make a difference on the job? Not everyone thinks about the importance of wearing the right shoes to work. Lots of HR people have codified rules in dress code policies, but a good number of companies and employees could benefit from more awareness of why it is important to wear protective and supportive footwear.

Protection

Steel toed or protective work shoes play a vital role in protecting front-line workers in manufacturing, industrial, and various maintenance types of jobs. Also, they can be considered a category of personal protective equipment (PPE), and many labour departments have laws about the distribution of PPE to workers.

According to the Ontario Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development, in workplaces where regulations under theOHSArequire “foot protection appropriate in the circumstances” or “suitable footwear”, employers should conduct a risk assessment to determine the foot protection appropriate in the circumstances or suitable footwear to protect the worker.

The World of Bearings and Power Transmission...

Your Resource for Precision Bearings

enables us to respond rapidly to your requests. Our manufacturing can handle any size order. Our quality control procedures ensure consistent tolerances and our engineering expertise give you a deep knowledge base to draw on.

• Standard Needle Bearing Cam and Cam Yoke Followers • Eccentric Stud Cam Followers • Heavy Stud Cam Followers • Neverlube ™ Cam and Cam Yoke Followers Xtenda TM Stainless Steel Cam and Cam Yoke Followers

Hi-RollerTM Bearings BALL BEARING UNITS

One of the world’s oldest mounted bearing manufacturer, they are available in wide array of sizes and styles.

For Special Environments try Ceraball Hybrid Bearing Units good for up to 450° C (842° F)

MONTREAL TORONTO WINNIPEG EDMONTON VANCOUVER

“A supervisor has to make sure that workers are wearing appropriate foot protection, so not just foot protection, but foot protection appropriate to circumstance as required by the employer and by the act of regulations.” said Ron Landry, Senior Manager, Provincial Industrial Health and Safety, Ontario Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development.

Comfort

Wearing the wrong shoes can result in numerous health conditions. According to the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS), some foot problems are so common that they can occur in any workplace and under any working conditions, such as: severely aching feet, blisters, calluses, corns, rheumatism, arthritis, malformations of toes, fallen arches (flat feet), bunions and sprains. The common causes of these foot problems are long periods of standing, hard flooring, and poorly fitted footwear; pointed shoes, lack of arch support, and too loose or too tight footwear.

“You can even have hazards of injury to the foot without any machinery or equipment being present,” said Landry. “For example, if you’re in a warehouse stocking shelves and using power equipment to move things around, or even pump carts to move things around.”

In general, people tend to get sore and tired when wearing shoes that are uncomfortable and spending long hours standing or walking in a workspace. Therefore, promoting the use of comfortable footwear can help with productivity and general wellness. Sensible shoes

Another area in which footwear is important is in supporting balance and mobility. Workers may decide to skimp on shoe costs and wear the wrong shoes, which can cause them to slip, trip, stub their toes or even sprain ankles because of a lack of friction. “If the right footwear isn’t selected, or the safety footwear isn’t worn properly, there may be an increased risk of injury from impact repression, puncture, electricity and ankle injury,” said Riane Marrs, Occupational Health and Safety Specialist, CCOHS. “It is really important to conduct a hazard workplace assessment of the activities in the workplace and choose footwear that will provide protection.”

Marrs added that employers are required to make sure that any machinery provided in the workplace is safe and in good operating condition, which should include preventative maintenance that align with the manufacturer recommendations, and they are also required to train employees and instruct them on the safe-use of the machinery.

Finally, the right pair of safety shoes helps factory workers to stay on their feet. Not to mention that there are many resources for organizations who are looking to implement a protective footwear program in their workplace, and this includes referring to the Canadian Standards Association’s section about protective footwear. MRO

Maryam Farag is the Associate Editor for Machinery and Equipment MRO Magazine, Food and Beverage Magazine, and Plant Magazine, Annex Business Media. She is a freelance writer at The Windsor Local, Torstar Corporation.

DISTRIBUTED IN CANADA BY

Great Products. Great Reputation.

Quality bearings are only one aspect of RBL’s product line. We take pride in our products that encompass bearings, rod ends, bushings, sprockets, roller and leaf chains along with a range of power transmission products. To assure product availability and the best possible service for our customers, we have extensive inventories at our five regional warehouses.

Ball Bearings Cylindrical Bearings Spherical Roller Bearings Split Pillow Blocks

Adapter Sleeves Ball Bearing Units Locknut & Lockwashers Stainless Steel Units

Slewing Rings Spherical Plain Bearings

Rod End Bearings Bronze Bushings

Linear Rail Systems SBC

Linear Rail System Ball Screw Support Units Linear Bushings Cross Roller Guide Robot Carrier Guide Linear Actuator