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When you think about Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) what is the first thing that comes to mind? For most, safety footwear is high on the list, and on the surface, this might seem like a simple ask – just make sure you provide safety footwear – but when you start to look a bit more at the question there are many other factors to consider.

Who is the footwear for? What are they doing that necessitates the protection? Are you their employer? Are they a volunteer? How do you explain all of this to your managers and procurement teams? The list goes on, and in this article, we will answer some of these burning questions and more. 

Apologies if you came here looking for a detailed review of the safety standards, there are many excellent articles and resources available to assist you with this. In this article, we will focus on the basics of safety footwear selection and the conversations that you might need to have with workers, managers, budget holders, finance, and procurement teams so that you, the safety professional, can specify footwear which will get those you support¹ home safely every day. 

What exactly is safety footwear?

So, let’s start at the beginning –what exactly is safety footwear? In its simplest form, it is any footwear worn to protect the user from hazards as defined in the risk assessment for the task being undertaken. This requires you the safety professional, to review the activity and then select appropriate footwear based on the various standards that they are tested to; for example, penetration protection, toe and metatarsal protection and other factors such as water resistance. The footwear needs to be appropriate for both the task, the person, and the environment in which it is being worn. We will take these in turn and explore in more detail.

The task

The first thing you will probably look at when selecting safety footwear is the task. When doing this you will want to check against the international ISO standards which set out how footwear must be tested to ensure that you know the product you are buying will be suitable for the task. The EN ISO standards ensure that the safety features of footwear are tested against a set of European Standards. Whilst this standard was written in Europe it is applied to the safety footwear market worldwide. More information can be found in EN ISO 20345² for safety footwear and EN ISO 20347³ for occupational footwear, most recently revised in 2021. There have also been newer standards implemented including EN ISO 13287⁴ for slip resistance and EN ISO 22568^5,6,7,8 covering toecaps and anti-perforation inserts. The other driver for companies operating in Europe are the PPE Regulations⁹ which came into force in 2016 with the aim of ensuring common standards for PPE in all Member States.

The place

Once you have taken the task into consideration the next element which can have a marked difference on the requirements of the footwear but also on their longevity is the place they are being used in. If your employees are working in challenging environments, they need footwear which is adequately designed, or its life span will be severely compromised. It is also worth considering the composition of the footwear as newer developments such as composite midsoles and toe caps are far more conducive to colder conditions than steel.

The person

The changing demographics of the world of work and technological advances have made the person a much bigger part of the appropriate selection of safety footwear. Gone are the days of simply saying it needs to be an “S3” and grabbing the first pair off the shelf. Whilst this might seem on the surface to add more complexity to the decision-making process, a correctly fitting pair of safety footwear can have many business benefits, beyond the lift of the footwear itself.

With an increasingly diverse labour market it is essential that safety footwear fits correctly. A style of boot which suits someone of large stature is unlikely to fit someone of a much smaller build and still be comfortable and supportive. When selecting footwear think about who you are buying it for, many brands now offer shoes and boots which are built on either a men’s or women’s last. Significant research has been conducted on this topic by Debbie Janson¹⁰ of the University of Bath, she has recently published a paper following a survey of end users of safety footwear the abstract of which can be found on the University of Bath website¹¹.

Debbie has found that “the number of women entering predominantly male industrial environments, and requiring safety footwear is rising, and this is accompanied by anecdotal reports of ill-fitting and uncomfortable footwear”. Her research proactively compares the opinions of women and men regarding their experience of safety footwear.

The other factor to consider is how people walk. Whilst you might not have given this much consideration in the past, this is an important factor in ensuring longevity of the boot by ensuring it wears evenly. It is also an important factor in reducing the likelihood of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). So, choosing the right pair of boots could reduce the likelihood of lost time due to MSDs and the other costs associated with a member of staff being off sick including costs to cover the work, administration costs, potential reputational damage and even civil claims.

When we walk with a neutral gait shoes and boots will wear evenly, but if the foot rolls outwards or inwards when we walk the footwear will wear unevenly with either the outside or inside wearing quicker than the other part – causing the footwear to have to be replaced sooner than it otherwise might have been. You might be thinking that there’s nothing you can do to counter this but there is a simple answer, and it is insoles. Safety footwear providers and manufacturers can supply insoles designed to correct under and over pronation of the foot, making the footwear more comfortable, less likely to cause MSDs and with an overall longer life span. Many manufacturers will also be willing to visit companies and undertake assessments of employees to identify any individuals who would benefit from additional support.

Polbridge Health Ltd¹² who provide Occupational Health services to the aviation, construction and haulage industries has seen more and more referrals due to MSDs from badly fitting or uncomfortable footwear.

Joanna Stacey Leeks Clinical Director at Polbridge Health Ltd. noted that “With safety footwear becoming more prevalent in the workplace, we are seeing a greater number of referrals due to associated MSDs… by not selecting the correct footwear many companies will suffer the indirect costs of Occupational Health referrals, treatment, time off and staff illness”.

The composition of the footwear is also of consideration when taking the person into account as composite footwear tends to be wider than steel and therefore more comfortable for those with wider feet. It is also lighter than steel which can be more appropriate for those wearing footwear for long periods of time or for those with slighter builds. If staff have to work 8 to 12 hours in this footwear it needs to be comfortable so as not to distract from the task in hand.

The other aspect to consider when selecting footwear is who is it for, i.e. do you employ them directly? Are they a contractor? Are they a volunteer? Depending on where you are in the world you will have your own set of regulations to comply with, but it is essential to make sure you understand those that are relevant and make sure you stay up to date with any changes. For example, recent changes in the UK mean that both direct employees and those employed on zero hours contracts and agency workers must all be provided with safety footwear if identified in a risk assessment regardless of whether they are identified as limb a or b workers¹³. In the UK the PPE regulations also require volunteers to be afforded relevant PPE for the tasks which they are undertaking.

“we are seeing a greater number of referrals due to associated MSDs”

How to have the conversation

For many safety professionals, the challenging part of selecting the right safety footwear is not the technical selection but the conversation that is required with budget holders and procurement teams. The challenge is that when you are selecting footwear there will be different business drivers for different parts of the business. So, when you are building your business case it can be beneficial to include the following key aspects.

Quality and comfort over brand names

When you are selecting footwear, it is important to include representatives from the workforce who will be using it on a day-to-day basis. This engagement step will help greatly in getting buy-in, particularly if you are making changes to minimum standards or brands being purchased. One challenge you might face is people’s allegiances to certain brand names, in the belief that they are better because they are a known brand. It can be helpful to discuss directly with manufacturers or with your PPE supplier as they can often provide trials of footwear so that you can experience them in your own working environment and prove to your workforce that you are looking for comfortable products which stop them from work related pain and discomfort whilst protecting them, rather than the misconception of a driver of cost cutting. To use the latest ISO standard as an example for work in a dry environment an S1P SR may be more suitable that an S3/S3L/S3S SR as the waterproof requirement is not needed.

Guidance on the recent changes has been provided by V12 in a whitepaper which is available from their website.

Getting the correct fit

When working with management teams once footwear has been selected, it is important to ensure that the correct sizes are chosen as some brands will be larger than others. Working with your teams as a safety professional, you can ensure that boots aren’t selected based on the size people assume they are but the size they are in a particular brand. It is important to include this in any communications you make within your business.

Whole life cost

When you are specifying footwear as a safety professional, it can be helpful to focus on the whole life cost of the footwear, this is sometimes referred to as total expenditure or TOTEX. It can be a false economy to purchase cheap safety footwear as its short lifespan can mean replacing it twice or three times during the lifespan of something which is slightly more expensive in initial outlay. As mentioned earlier, the costs required to ensure that you have correctly fitting footwear should also be balanced with the reduction of wear and therefore the extended lifespan of footwear.

It can also be helpful to include the mitigation of indirect costs in your business case as these are not always readily obvious to non-safety professionals. These can include a reduction in lost time due to conditions such as MSDs, increased compliance with the use of the PPE provided and a reduced likelihood of costs associated with occupational health referrals and at the far end of the scale, with potential civil claims for workplace injuries, caused or exacerbated by the footwear provided.

“your PPE supplier can often provide trials of footwear”

Maintaining your footwear

So, you have taken time to select safety footwear which meets the technical requirements of the task and the place of work as well as those who are wearing it. You have engaged with your workforce in the final choice of shoes and boots, and you’ve made your business case the finance and procurement teams or budget holders and have had it approved. So that’s it right? Well, not quite. There are a few more steps that you can take as a safety professional to make sure you get the most out of your safety footwear and protect the business against compliance issues.

Firstly, many manufacturers supply warranties with their products and these should be registered upon purchase to ensure that you are covered should a defect be identified. If footwear is defective, it will not provide the correct protection and must be returned to the manufacturer so that the manufacture can investigate why the footwear does not meet the agreed standard and issue credit notes if valid.

The next element is about ensuring that you have the right policies and procedures in place to support your management teams and occupational health. This can include suitably delegated authority to occupational health to suggest replacements where footwear is causing MSDs this can reduce indirect costs that will have a significant effect on the bottom line if not managed.

Additionally, a new for old policy to ensure that you are not replacing products when they are still serviceable but also so that you can inspect the returned items and identify any potential issues.

Finally, as a safety professional, you will want to ensure that in the event of an incident the safety footwear is inspected to identify if it contributed to the incident and also to ensure that it was correctly worn fastened as designed and maintained. After all, you’ve put all that effort into selecting and procuring it – don’t allow poor maintenance and behaviour to let you down.

In conclusion

In conclusion there are many technical standards that you will want to take into consideration when selecting safety footwear but your role as the safety professional goes beyond this to engaging with the workforce and having the sometimes challenging conversations with managers, budget holders, finance and procurement teams to make sure that the footwear provided, whether it be safety or occupational, will protect the workers, reduce the likelihood of occupational injuries, lots time and civil claims and also provide an acceptable whole life or TOTEX cost to the business. It is a big challenge but one when armed with the right information, can be successfully achieved.

Saftey Footwear Checklist

• Think about the task that is being undertaken
• Where is the work happening, are there any particular considerations such as cold or slippery surfaces?
• Who is the footwear for? Do they have any particular requirements?
• Have you engaged with the workforce? User trials can help overcome brand bias
• Remember the whole life cost not just the upfront unit cost of the shoe or boot
• Don’t forget the indirect costs of poorly maintained, selected or fitting footwear

Article written by Keith Hole and Lucy Pritchard for HSI Magazine – https://www.hsimagazine.com/article/putting-your-best-foot-forward/

Construction projects could soon be using the world’s first zero emissions cement, thanks to Cement 2 Zero (C2Z), a UK-based demonstrator project bringing together Cambridge University scientists with key industry figures.

The project, which secured £6.5m of government funding from UKRI as part of the Transforming Foundation Industries Challenge, has officially launched and aims to demonstrate that concrete can be recycled to create a Slag Forming addition which could, when cooled rapidly, replace Portland cement.   

Portland clinker, one of the main ingredients in cement, is produced by firing limestone and other minerals in a kiln at extremely high temperatures (1,450 degrees Celsius), a process which accounts for more than 50% of the cement sector’s emissions. 

By contrast, Cement 2 Zero will use recycled cement as the flux in the electric steel recycling process – powered by an electric arc furnace which uses renewable energy – the by-product of which, when cooled and ground, produces Portland cement clinker, which is then blended to make ‘zero-emissions’ cement.  

This innovative product known as Cambridge Electric Cement (CEC) could be made in a virtuous recycling loop, that not only eliminates the significant emissions of cement and steel production, but also saves raw materials.

The two-year industrial trial for producing the cement on an industrial scale will test each stage of the production process, bringing together the expertise of the Materials Processing Institute and the University of Cambridge researchers Dr Cyrille Dunant, Professor Julian Allwood and Dr Philippa Horton, who invented the process. 

Key supply chain partners on the project involved in the testing stage before the product is introduced in a live UK construction project also include Atkins, Balfour Beatty, CELSA, Day Aggregates and Tarmac.  

Chris McDonald, chief executive officer of the Materials Processing Institute, said: “Cement 2 Zero has the potential to make a significant contribution to achieving a zero-carbon society, secure and increase jobs in the UK cement and steel sectors and challenge conventional production processes, creating high-value materials from demolition waste.” 

Dr Dunant, who made the crucial discovery that the chemical composition of used cement is virtually identical to that of the lime-flux used in the conventional electric arc furnace steel recycling process, added: “We take the built environment around us for granted, new homes, schools, hospitals, workplaces, roads and railways, as well as infrastructure that provides us with clean water, sanitation and energy – all require cement which is an essential building material. 

“It’s estimated that annual production equates to more than 500kg of concrete per person on the planet per year, and it is not currently possible to produce the material without creating CO2 emissions. 

“This breakthrough offers a positive move in cement production and will support the industry response to the UK’s legally binding commitment to bring all greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050.”

The first phase of trial melts is being carried out by the Materials Processing Institute, initially in a 250kg induction furnace, before being scaled up to 6T. 

Once the process has been substantially trialled, developed and de-risked effectively, industrial scale melts will follow in CELSA’s electric arc furnace in Cardiff. 

Dr Philippa Horton, University of Cambridge, who created the project consortium, said: “If Cambridge Electric Cement lives up to the promise it has shown in early laboratory trials, when combined with other innovative technologies, it could be a pivotal point in the journey to a zero-emissions society. 

“The Cement 2 Zero project is an invaluable opportunity to collaborate across the entire construction supply chain, to expand CEC from the laboratory to its first commercial application.” 

Concrete is the most widely used material on earth after water, and it is fundamental to our way of life, our economy and shaping our world. 

However, the chemical and thermal combustion processes involved in the production of cement are a significant source of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions – with more than four billion tonnes of cement produced each year, accounting for around seven per cent of global CO2 emissions, according to the Global Cement and Concrete Association (GCCA). 

Professor Julian Allwood, University of Cambridge and Cambridge Electric Cement, explained: “By combining steel and cement recycling in a single process powered by renewable electricity, we could supplement the global supply of the basic construction materials to support the infrastructure of a zero emissions world and to enable economic development where it is most needed.”

Article by Sarah Walker – www.infrastructure-intelligence.com

ICE Past President David Balmforth was among the flooding experts encouraging the UK government to take action on sustainable drainage.

A new approach to sustainable drainage has been announced by the UK government, following pressure from industry to act now.

The legislation relating to sustainable drainage systems (SuDs) will, according to the government, “reduce the risk of surface water flooding, pollution and help alleviate the pressures on our traditional drainage and sewerage systems”.

The move follows an open letter, sent to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in December, where industry experts “strongly urged” him to implement Schedule 3 of the Flood and Water Management Act 2010.

SuDS and Schedule 3

Sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) have long been recognised by civil engineers as an important way to manage surface water, to lower the risk of flooding.

Schedule 3 of the act, which the experts urged the government to implement, established a process to ensure that any new development includes high quality SuDS, and removed developers’ automatic right to connect to public sewers.

“As experts and delivery organisations in construction, planning, water management and environmental management, we strongly urge you to implement Schedule 3 after many years working with alternative approaches.

“Implementation is essential to addressing growing surface water flood risk, tackling the sewage pollution problem and is complementary to Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) and nutrient neutrality.

“SuDS are internationally recognised as the most effective way of managing both surface water flood risk and storm-related pollution,” the letter to Sunak stated.

We need to ‘harness the full power of blue-green infrastructure’

The Flood and Water Management Act was passed in 2010 following serious flooding in the summer of 2007.

The floods affected 55,000 properties, led to 13 deaths, and left half a million people without mains power and water.

The SuDS requirement for new developments is also something that the ICE’s flooding community advisory board (CAB) has been calling for.

ICE flooding CAB chair Fiona Barbour said: “Implementing Schedule 3 is critical if we are to increase our resilience to flooding. 

“Sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) are not as complicated or as expensive as many developers fear and legislation is not at odds with housing requirements. 

“Many developers welcome the clarity it would bring. Civil engineers have an important role to play in designing the most efficient systems to reduce the risk of flooding and sewage spills.”

‘Do not waste any more time’

According to the letter to the prime minister, the SuDS part of the act was “relaxed” in 2014 and high quality SuDS have not been made mandatory so far due to “misconceptions on cost and applicability”.

“The [SuDS] approach could have been normalised as standard good practice many years ago.

“Please do not waste any more time; implement Schedule 3 of the Flood and Water Management Act 2010 further to the current government review,” the letter ends.

As well as Balmforth, the letter has been signed by a large cohort of experts including Terry Fuller, chief executive of the Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management, Christine McGourty, CEO of Water UK, and Professor Jim Hall, professor of climate and environmental risks at Oxford University.

Article written by Anh Nguyen, content strategy manager at ICE

Balfour Beatty has scooped the £1.2bn contract to deliver the Roads North of the Thames’ package of works for the proposed Lower Thames Crossing.

The firm will be responsible for the design and delivery of over 10 miles of new highways, connecting the M25 at Junction 29 and the A13 with the proposed Lower Thames Crossing tunnel at Tilbury, Essex.

It beat rival bidder Kier Eiffage – Kier Highways and Eiffage Génie Civil – to take the two-stage design and build contract delivering the route from 1km north of the northern tunnel entrance to Junction 29 of the M25.

At construction peak, Balfour Beatty will directly employ a workforce of 2,000, including around 150 apprenticeship, graduate and trainee positions.

The major project will see Balfour deliver 49 structures including bridges and major viaducts.

Balfour Beatty will utilise modular construction techniques to build the structures offsite in a controlled factory environment, significantly reducing carbon emissions by minimising the number of lorry movements and material deliveries to and from site.

Throughout construction, Balfour Beatty will look to spend £500m with local businesses and supply chain partners and will set up an ‘Operator Skills Hub’ to provide innovative training programmes to upskill plant operators and inspire the next generation of talent in the UK.

Leo Quinn, group chief executive of Balfour Beatty, said: “Our deep domain knowledge and long-standing history in complex road construction, acquired through many years of successful delivery on behalf of National Highways, makes us ideally positioned to deliver this project to the highest standard.”

Subject to Development Consent Order and following an 18-month period of detailed design and pre-construction planning, notice to proceed on the mega project is expected in 2024.

The full value of the contract will then go into Balfour Beatty’s order book, with main construction scheduled to commence shortly after. Completion is expected between 2029 and 2030.

Article by Aaron Morby – www.constructionenquirer.com

More than 60,000 industry skills cards issued under the Grandfather Rights process will expire on 31st December 2024 and cannot be renewed.

The end of all CSCS Industry Accreditation cards issued from 1st Jan 2020 is part of the Construction Leadership Council’s drive for a fully trained and competent workforce.

Industry Accreditation (IA) allowed experienced workers to obtain CSCS cards on the strength of an employer recommendation rather than the achievement of a recognised qualification.

What each individual needs to do next depends on their occupation and what qualifications they may already hold.

An industry task group has published new guidance on the CSCS website that clearly sets out the next steps CSCS IA card holders must take before the deadline.

Sean Kearns, Chief Executive at CSCS said: “IA cardholders will not need to attend college as much of the assessment can be deliver remotely.

“Many IA cardholders will find it a straightforward process to replace their cards, such as moving across to the Academically or Professionally Qualified Persons cards. In addition, those who no longer attend site or are in non-construction related occupations will not require a card.”

A CLC statement said: “Building Safety and competence are two of the CLC’s priorities. As an industry, and in accordance with various sets of legislation including the Construction Design and Management Regulations (CDM) and the Building Safety Act, we must demonstrate to the regulator, our clients, building occupiers and the wider public that those designing, building, and maintaining the built environment are competent to do so.

“The CLC recommendation introduced in 2015 and updated in 2017 & 2020 set an expectation of all CSCS cards being achieved via qualification by the end of 2024.”

Kearns added: “CSCS is committed to playing its part in delivering a fully trained and qualified workforce. The removal of cards issued under IA represents another significant step in achieving this goal.

“The new guidance and support will help cardholders to either retain their card via the S/NVQ or to easily transition to another CSCS card. We would urge employers, trade associations, awarding organisations and training providers to put plans in place to support these workers ahead of the December 2024 withdrawal.”

Article by Grant Prior – constructionenquirer.com

In the current job market, unstable economy and rising costs, the need for skilled people remains an urgent need for most businesses.

Recent research from WithYouWithMe  showed that there is overlooked talent in underrepresented groups.

For example, their research showed that autistic individuals typically score 10 percent higher in key tech capabilities. Almost a third, 32 per cent, of neurodivergent individuals scoring higher in spatial awareness and 10 per cent higher in Digital Symbol Coding.

These key skills directly translate to careers in the Engineering and IT sectors to name a couple.

As evident by the stat above, organisations must continue to consider Equality, Diversity and Inclusion when it comes to recruitment.

Diversity in the workplace is necessary as it better represents the labour market.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion should always be at the centre of companies’ recruitment strategies and pursued in all areas of the business, including senior positions to help inspire employees. 

At Intersect Global we are involved in promoting and improving Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in the workplace.

Click here to see our guide to understanding the meaning of Fairness Inclusion and Respect.

We are currently recruiting for a variety of roles in the Construction, Civil Engineering, Telecoms and IT sectors, head over to our Job Board to find a selection of our vacancies.

Many of our vacancies are not advertised, so please get in touch with us for a confidential chat and let one of our consultants help you make the next step in your career.

Follow this link to our contact form alternatively connect with us on LinkedIn.

Despite an unstable economy and businesses tightening their belts in response; unemployment rates remain low and for every company that is going through redundancies, new jobs are being created elsewhere. 

Just because the economy is slowing down, that doesn’t mean there’s fewer jobs to fill.

Once the largest group of workers, baby boomers are now leaving the workforce in droves, having for the most part reached retirement age.

 With Gen X a smaller group, Millennials now make up the largest working force, while Gen Z enters the workforce.

This generational shift in the workplace signals a shift in communication styles, values and drivers. 

BBC Worklife’s article written by Ali Francis really explains what is important for Gen Z in the workplace: https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20220613-gen-z-the-workers-who-want-it-all#:~:text=According%20to%202022%20research%20by,hybrid%20or%20totally%20remote%20work

So, how does Intersect Global adapt its recruiting strategies to attract Gen Z’s into the workforce? 

Our approach is consultative, with a personal, efficient and informed service offering. As seasoned recruiters we fully recognise the need for a straightforward, honest and knowledgeable recruitment service. We therefore pride ourselves on our integrity and always consider transparency at the forefront in all of our dealings.

We believe our approach in part is the reason why we are frequently recommended by our clients and candidates.

 At Intersect Global, we are involved in promoting and improving Fairness, Inclusion and Respect in the workplace in the construction industry.

We encourage positive attitudes to diversity and Inclusion and promote a good work-life balance.

Together we can help the construction industry build a better world.

To read our clients’ and candidates’ testimonials, follow these links – Clients Testimonials and Candidate Testimonials

There is no easy answer to this question. But first things first, what is a counter offer?

A counter offer happens when your current employer offers you a higher salary, more company benefits or even a role promotion after you have tendered your resignation.

Some studies, such as the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), predict that every time a business replaces a salaried employee, it costs 6 to 9 months’ salary on average (this includes recruitment and training costs). To offer a salary increase cost less than recruiting a new employee.

Take your time before making any decisions and consider the following:

o   What made you go through the application and interview process in the first place? Maybe you were unhappy with the salary, or the working hours or even the culture in the office whatever your reason, will the counter offer resolve it?

It is very likely that most employees have more than one reason to consider working somewhere else.

It is worth asking yourself the question, why it has come to you tendering your resignation for your company to offer you a pay rise, better working conditions or the promise of a promotion ?

If you were truly valued then why are you only being offered these improvements now?

o   Seeing their colleague getting a pay rise may put in question other’s view of their own salary and create an atmosphere of unease in the office. Carefully consider what would happen if you accepted the counter offer. By accepting a counter offer, managers and work peers may see you as less dependable and a team player.

o   Moving on from your current position can be stressful, you’ll be moving into a culture where you are unproven, you may not know anyone there and you will have to adjust your work/travelling/WFH routine. Getting comfortable in a new job, learning new ways of working and getting to your new colleagues can be hard work.

That said, without stepping into the unknown and pushing yourself out of your comfort zone, you’ll never know what other opportunities could be out there and know your true professional worth.

If you still have doubts, speak to us about your concerns, here at Intersect Global we value quality and nurture our relationship with both our clients and candidates.

To discuss any of the jobs listed on our site, contact us or connect with us on LinkedIn.