– Our footwear is not suitable for protection against any risks not expressly mentioned in this Information sheet and in particular those that fall into Category III Personal Protective Equipment.
– No footwear is able to guarantee total protection from all possible impacts or penetrations.
– Maximum adhesion to the ground is generally reached after a certain period of “breaking in” new footwear (just like the tyres on a car) to remove residual silicone, release agents and any other surface irregularities of a physical and/or chemical type.
– The slip resistance may also vary depending on how worn the sole is; compliance with the specifications will not however guarantee the prevention of slipping under every condition.
– The resistance to penetration has been measured in the laboratory using a nail with a tapered shank 4.5 mm in diameter and a with a force of 1100 N (approx. 112kg). Greater forces or nails of a smaller diameter increase the risk of penetration. Under these circumstances it is better to consider alternative protection measures.
– Two types of anti-penetration midsole are currently available: metal and non-metal. Both of these satisfy minimum requirements for resistance to penetration set by the standard marked on the footwear, but each one has its own advantages or disadvantages, including:
o Metal midsole: the risk is less dependent upon the shape of the penetrating object (e.g. diameter, geometry, sharpness) but, due to the constructional limitation of the footwear, it does not cover the entire sole area of the footwear.
o Non-metal midsole: this may be lighter, more flexible and cover a greater area compared to the metal midsole, but the resistance to penetration may vary more dependent on the shape of the penetrating object (e.g. diameter, geometry, sharpness).
– The choice must be based on an assessment of the risk under the actual working conditions.
– For more information on the anti-penetration midsoles fitted to your footwear, contact the manufacturer or the supplier named in these instructions.