Hoffmann Group
// General

Your feet need protective footwear

Suitable footwear is important to protect the feet at all times, especially in the workplace. Modern safety shoes provide protection without stressing the feet. An optimum fit and excellent wearing comfort increase well-being, the entire musculoskeletal system is relieved of stress and long-term injury is prevented.

Nowadays, safety shoes are standard in pretty much all areas of both the manufacturing and services industries. Regardless of whether it is engineers, factory workers or logistics specialists – there is hardly any type of personal protective equipment that is as widely accepted as foot protection. With the right products, work accidents can be avoided and safety at the workplace can be increased.

  • The right foot protection prevents injuries due to the following hazards:
    • Mechanical: falling objects, crushing, penetration
    • Thermal: molten metal spatter, heat, weather, cold
    • Electrical: contact with live equipment, generation of sparks in sensitive areas due to electrostatic charges
    • Chemical: acids, alkalis, oils, greases, fuels
    • Accidents due to conditions underfoot: twisted ankles, slipping, tripping
    • Long-term damage: back and knee complaints
  • Mechanical: falling objects, crushing, penetration
  • Thermal: molten metal spatter, heat, weather, cold
  • Electrical: contact with live equipment, generation of sparks in sensitive areas due to electrostatic charges
  • Chemical: acids, alkalis, oils, greases, fuels
  • Accidents due to conditions underfoot: twisted ankles, slipping, tripping
  • Long-term damage: back and knee complaints

Over the course of a lifetime, a person will roughly walk the equivalent of four times around the world.
So your feet literally do all the hard work every day.

// INSTRUCTIONAL VIDEO
// SELECTION AID

Work and safety shoes for various requirements

Foot protection can basically be split into two categories: Work shoes and safety shoes. The difference is in the toe protection cap, which used to be mostly made of steel, but nowadays is also made from aluminium or high-grade composite materials. Safety shoes have a cap; work shoes do not.

The latter are therefore primarily used in the medical professions, in gastronomy, in the police force and in the military. Safety sandals, safety shoes or safety boots offer a higher degree of protection. Both categories are split into various protection classes in order to meet the different requirements at the workplace. Business safety shoes are a separate sub-category and come in elegant designs.

// SELECTION AID

Safety sandals

Safety low shoes

Safety low shoes

Welder’s boots

Safety sandals

Safety low shoes

Business safety shoes

Welder’s boots

Safety sandals

Work shoes

Business safety shoes

Welder’s boots

Safety boots

Work shoes

Business safety shoes

Safety boots

Safety boots

Work shoes

Sole types for work and safety shoes

A basic distinction is drawn between single-layer (mono) and double-layer (duo) soles.

Advantage of single-layer soles:
The special advantage of the single-layer sole is that a single material with a lower density can be sprayed on. This creates a lightweight sole which can easily adapt to the floor characteristics.

Advantage of double-layer soles:
With double-layer soles, two different materials with different properties can be used. For instance, the sole tread may be made of rubber but the intermediate sole made of polyurethane. This combines the benefits of both materials: the exceptional heat resistance of rubber and the comfortable damping characteristics of polyurethane.

1 Rubber
Extremely hard-wearing, heat resistant for short periods up to 300°C; good resistance to cuts and abrasion. Resistant to fuel, oil, microbes and a wide variety of chemicals. Heavier than PU and TPU and also somewhat less flexible when cold.

2 Nitrile rubber (Perbunan)
Very hard-wearing. Heat resistant up to 220°C. Very good non-slip characteristics and excellent resistance to acids and alkalis.

3 Polyurethane (PU)
Heat resistant up to 130 °C and flexible in cold down to -30°C. Resistant to oil and fuel, a wide variety of chemicals, and microbes. Lighter than rubber soles. Good damping characteristics and pleasant to wear.

4 Thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU)
Similar to PU soles, but overall significantly better performance. Less abrasion means the soles last longer, and also increases the non-slip properties. In addition they offer even greater flexibility and optimised resistance to cold.

WEARING COMFORT AND FIT
WEARING COMFORT AND FIT
In order for employees to wear the foot protection during their working activities in accordance with regulations, wearing comfort and fit are of particular importance. Manufacturers of personal protective equipment have developed various technologies to meet this selection criterion. For example, the back can be given better protection using individual, weight-dependent heel shock absorption (1). A reduced sole thickness (2) or a modified geometry of the outer sole also relieves the wearer’s musculoskeletal system. Most manufacturers also offer models in different widths (3).

Breathable work and safety shoes are easy on the skin and comfortable to wear. The special GORE-TEX® technology is ideal for working outside, since it is both watertight and breathable. PPE specialists at the Hoffmann Group are happy to assist you in choosing the ideal foot protection for the employees in your company using individual fittings with product wearing tests right on your premises.

An overview of the advantages for you in finding the right work shoes:

  • Professional PPE specialist advice, both across manufacturers as well as in conjunction with leading partner brands.
  • We provide the optimum safety by
  • selecting safety shoes in line with the hazards.
  • Minimising the risk of accidents and damage to health at the workplace.
  • High level of comfort increases the acceptance for wearing the safety shoes.
  • The musculoskeletal system, especially the back and joints, are relieved of stress and strain.
  • A perfect fit minimises long-term damage.
  • Reduction in lost working days due to illness and the associated costs.

WEARING COMFORT AND FIT
WEARING COMFORT AND FIT
In order for employees to wear the foot protection during their working activities in accordance with regulations, wearing comfort and fit are of particular importance. Manufacturers of personal protective equipment have developed various technologies to meet this selection criterion. For example, the back can be given better protection using individual, weight-dependent heel shock absorption (1). A reduced sole thickness (2) or a modified geometry of the outer sole also relieves the wearer’s musculoskeletal system. Most manufacturers also offer models in different widths (3).

Breathable work and safety shoes are easy on the skin and comfortable to wear. The special GORE-TEX® technology is ideal for working outside, since it is both watertight and breathable. PPE specialists at the Hoffmann Group are happy to assist you in choosing the ideal foot protection for the employees in your company using individual fittings with product wearing tests right on your premises.

An overview of the advantages for you in finding the right work shoes:

  • Professional PPE specialist advice, both across manufacturers as well as in conjunction with leading partner brands.
  • We provide the optimum safety by
  • selecting safety shoes in line with the hazards.
  • Minimising the risk of accidents and damage to health at the workplace.
  • High level of comfort increases the acceptance for wearing the safety shoes.
  • The musculoskeletal system, especially the back and joints, are relieved of stress and strain.
  • A perfect fit minimises long-term damage.
  • Reduction in lost working days due to illness and the associated costs.

// SERVICES – Foot measurements and Wearing tests

Individual specialist advice

We can provide you with first-class advice on-site and draw up individual foot protection concepts – depending on the hazards and personal requirements. Throughout the entire service process we will support you in selecting the right foot protection on the basis of existing models, as well as new ones when you want them.

// SERVICES – Foot measurements and Wearing tests

Support in risk assessment

During a tour of the workplace, we identify potential hazards for your employees' feet and show you solution concepts taking into account all the statutory protection regulations.

// SERVICES – Foot measurements and Wearing tests

Product selection

We have the right foot protection solution for every application. Thanks to our comprehensive range of safety shoes, together with you, we will find the perfect product selection for protecting your employees’ feet, regardless of manufacturer.

// SERVICES – Foot measurements and Wearing tests

Finding the right shoe size and foot width

The right fit is essential for the optimum level of comfort when wearing safety shoes. We will measure your shoe size as well as shoe width, to find the perfect fitting work shoe for you. We will also select the right insoles for your employees, too, so they can put their best foot forward.

// SERVICES – Foot measurements and Wearing tests

Wearing test

Before purchasing, you have the option to perform a wearing test with a defined number of test wearers and to order samples to look at in different size sets. Using a questionnaire with defined parameters, the results of the test phase are documented. We will also support you in training the testers.

// SERVICES – Foot measurement and wearing test

Footdisc Pro – measures the foot type and size using heat

No matter whether the person has flat feet, high arches, fallen arches or average-shaped feet, all foot shapes can be determined
using Footdisc. A temperature-sensitive film determines the shoe size and arch in one step using heat.

  • Simply step on the Footdisc.
  • Wait 10 to 30 seconds for the measuring result.
  • Note the foot shape as well as shoe size.

This convenient measuring method does not require power or expensive maintenance.

// SERVICES – Foot measurement and wearing test

Determine shoe size and shoe width using the mould measuring system

The right shoe size in terms of length and width can be selected using the tried-and-tested measuring system with moulds – quickly, easily, and above all, reliably. Using the 3-dimensional surface that shows the exact interior of our shoes, we recreate the process of trying on a shoe.

Instead of just measuring the dimensions of the feet metrically, the mould measuring system also takes the wearer’s subjective experience into account. Moulds with different widths for each shoe length replicate the volume for shoes of different widths. The wearer experiences the same conditions as in the original shoe. In comparison to trying on shoes, there is a considerable reduction in the time spent and the risk of having to exchange the shoes.

// SERVICES – Foot measurement and wearing test

Measuring shoe size: foot measurement in detail

Modern and comfortable safety shoes provide protection without stressing the feet. With our measurement service and wearing test service, we will find the perfect support, no matter whether for narrow or wide feet.

Models are pre-selected depending on your requirements, wishes and any hazards for the feet at the workplace. So that the selected safety shoes are also a perfect fit, your employees’ feet are also measured and the exact shoe size and foot width thereby determined.

  • On the agreed date, we will come to you and measure your employees’ feet ourselves.
  • We will advise your employees if specific insoles are needed.
  • Or we will instruct you in how to deal with foot measurement so that you can independently measure your employees’ feet using measurement stations.

Independent foot measurement following instruction is above all helpful if it is difficult to measure all your employees in terms of time.

// SERVICES – Foot measurement and wearing test

The perfect fit: Comfortable safety shoes thanks to foot measurement and wearing tests

Wearing comfort and fit are crucial for the acceptance of personal protective equipment amongst your employees. This applies to foot protection in particular. Having extensive wearing tests before deciding whether to purchase saves money and promotes acceptance of the systematic PPE solution amongst those wearing it. It is precisely here that we provide you with support with comfortable work shoes that are the perfect fit for your feet.

Our qualified team will help you to find the perfect shoe. We can measure your employees’ feet on-site at your premises, and provide you with products for the wearing test. We subsequently document the results based on defined measurement criteria in wearing test reports.

  • Professional PPE specialist advice, both across manufacturers as well as in conjunction with leading partner brands.
  • We provide optimum safety by selecting safety shoes in line with the hazards.
  • Minimising the risk of accidents and damage to health at the workplace.
  • High level of comfort increases the acceptance for wearing the safety shoes.
  • The musculoskeletal system, especially the back and joints, are relieved of stress and strain.
  • A perfect fit minimises long-term damage.
  • Reduction in lost working days due to illness and the associated costs

// Norms and standards

German and European standards for foot protection

Safety and work shoes are subject to specific requirements. Safety shoes are regulated in EN ISO 20345 and work shoes are regulated in EN ISO 20347. Furthermore, in certain instances DGUV rule 112-191 (formerly BGR 191) is applied.

This rule specifies that orthopaedic inserts may be introduced into safety shoes only in conjunction with a valid prototype test certificate declaring that they continue to satisfy EN ISO 20345. The fitting of the inserts is then performed by the regional orthopaedic shoemaker or medical supplier.