Women in construction, heavy industries and utilities need to multi-task – doing their actual job whilst being aware of the dangers around them, if their main focus is discomfort due to their safety footwear, accidents can potentially follow and could have severe consequences, especially on busy sites.
Everyday Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), particularly safety footwear comes into question. Safety boots, safety trainers, wellingtons and safety shoes need to be comfortable, dependable, and durable, but most of all they do need to fit properly!
Regarding the fitting of women’s safety footwear, research tells us, that organisations for the most part are converting men’s size fittings, into what they believe is the equivalent re-size for the female foot, without properly checking measurements.
In June 2023 Ground Engineering (GE) reported that 80% of the women who work in this industry were provided with ill-fitting PPE and safety footwear. This survey was followed-up by Katherine Evans the founder of Bold as Brass, who asked comparable questions to the Bold as Brass online women’s support group that brings together a united voice for women who work in mining, engineering services and construction industries. Their results continued along a similar vein with ill-fitting PPE and in some cases, PPE was not provided for, as sizes particularly safety footwear were not readily available.
Rock Fall UK in collaboration with Katherine Evans founder of Bold as Brass
In the summer of 2023, the Rock Fall R&D department collaborated with Katherine Evans on a brief to produce a new range of safety footwear specifically developed for women, through on-the-ground consultations with women who work in heavy industries, engineering, and utility environments.
The development processes
The requirements presented by a focus group from the Bold as Brass membership was to produce a safety boot that would not only fit a woman’s foot properly, but it needed to withstand their everyday working environments. Rock Fall were given three main-focus points:
- Consider the different shapes and sizes of women’s feet – (sizes 2 – 9 whole UK sizes).
- Eliminate or reduce possible risk of injury to the musculoskeletal system.
- Consider site hazards individuals could encounter.
The boot/shoe fit needed to be as secure as possible, ill-fitting footwear can make your feet uncomfortable, leading to distraction, risking the wearer’s everyday health, safety, and wellbeing.
The foot measurements and circumference determine the shoe size(s), creating a starting point based on size, however, slim feet, low instep/high instep arch, ankle bones, all need to be considered.
Following an extensive design consultation, with members of the Bold as Brass, the Rock Fall R&D team produced two safety boot samples using a female last fitting to ensure a perfect shoe fit – the aim, to feel supported but not restricted!
Several trial samples were produced in two quite distinct colours, materials, fastenings, and sizes including:
- Nubuck leather in Stone
- Waxy full grain leather in Black
- Post-Consumer polyester materials such as recycled plastic bottles
- Fully waterproof and breathable Activ-Tex® membranes to keep feet dry and comfortable.
- Fibreglass toecap and composite midsole protection
- BOA® Fit System, for precision fit and evenly distributed tension.
- YKK zip for ease of access
- Full nitrile rubber soles
Working trials and onsite testing
Assessing the Hurricane BOA® fit system and the Carbon safety boots was essential and integral to the official launch of these two quite different women’s safety boots.
Both safety boots styles were evaluated on performance, quality, and suitability by Katherine Evens and a focus group made up from members of Bold as Brass.
Individuals trialling both styles of safety boots across a range of construction, engineering and heavy industry, and utility environments around the UK confirmed both safety styles are fit for purpose.
In fact, working trials scored perfect 10’s…
- Extremely lightweight
- Durable – sturdy fitting comfort
- Outstanding traction
- Great flexibility
- Easy fitting – BOA® fit system
- Supportive – extra cushioning around the ankle, heel
- Comfortable – breathability keeping feet cool
- Functional soles grip while behind the wheel – none Slip or slide off the pedals
- High quality components – force10, scuff caps
- Stylish & safe fit
Best of all, everyone agreed the new Hurricane BOA® and Carbon safety boot styles are destined to improve women’s health, safety, and wellbeing on the job!
January 2024 Step into Rock Fall working trials…
Hurricane | B830661
The Hurricane BOA safety boots are worksite inspired, fully tested in quarry environments, on construction sites, across heavy industry facilities, and engineering sectors.
To fully understand the depth and scope of the Hurricane BOA® fit system, view the video interview with Katherine Evens https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZO5tfs7-mk&t=3s
Carbon | B830654
The Carbon safety boots are worksite inspired developed for industries with large and heavy machinery, production processes, construction and infrastructure, machine tools and manufacturing environments.
To fully understand the depth and scope of the Carbon safety boot view the video interview with Jenna Roberts – Quarry Manager, Heidelberg Materials https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a64WauLw75k
SHE Awards 2024, Rock Fall UK Won the ‘Best Health and Safety Project of the Year’
Judges’ comments ‘this is a well-deserved win for the Safety Footwear Industry’!
To give further background information, here is a short video on the collaboration with the Rock Fall team and the ladies over at ‘Bold as Brass’ who lent their feet and voice behind this award-winning safety project! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tpq5glCTjf0&t=88s
