THE TOOL CHEST

	THE TOOL CHEST
	Work Boots
	Protect Your Feet Without Sacrificing Comfort and Style
	By Bruce Greenlaw (This Article is taken from Carpenter Magazine)
1.The basic work boot consist of a laminated sole attached to a leather upper.

According to the Red Wing Shoe Company, the average person walks about five miles and absorbs about 4 tons of pressure from under foot per day. That might seem like a lot to ask of feet, but union carpenters ask much more.

During a normal workday, a carpenter might walk on sharp objects and slick surfaces, scale ladders and machines, slog through mud or snow, handle heavy loads, and participate in plenty of activities that can be hazardous to feet. In fact, according to the National Safety Council, workers suffer an estimated 180,000 disabling foot injuries every year in the United States.

        No doubt many work-related injuries can be prevented by wearing environmentally correct footwear. But even if you choose work boots that are appropriate for your trade, and thus minimize the risk of occupational foot injuries, uncomfortable boots can still make your life miserable. The good news? Many of the latest work boots are so comfortable you'll be tempted to wear them after hours. You also can buy work boots in virtually any style, including cowboy and hiking boots.

        Here's a peek at work-boot safety and comfort features that are important to the various UBC trades, plus some shopping and maintenance tips.

Choosing the Right Boot
        The perfect work boot would be tougher than a Humvee; protect feet from every possible jobsite hazard; not mark finish materials; repel water without trapping sweat; match the comfort of an athletic shoe in any weather; look great; and not break the budget. Unfortunately, the perfect work boot doesn't exist. For top performance in particular environments, work boots must offer some attributes at the expense of others.

How do you choose appropriate footwear for your occupation? In the United States, OSHA requires employers to identify work hazards and make sure their employees wear proper personal protective equipment where necessary.

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Where feet must be protected from falling or rolling objects, sole punctures, or electrical hazards, the employer is supposed to require employees to wear appropriate work boots that meet the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Z41 Standard for protective footwear. (Canadian employers must meet similar requirements prescribed by the Canadian Standards Association.) Additional state regulations may apply.

But on most non-industrial job sites, carpenters are responsible for selecting their own footwear. Fortunately, there's no need to depend on department-store clerks for advice. Most veteran carpenters love to talk about their boots and can be a great source for shopping tips. Also, the best boot manufacturers offer informative catalogs and web sites and will answer technical questions over the phone.

Red Wing's catalog, for instance, features handy charts that make it easy to choose boots based on "working conditions" (such as wet environments and hard surfaces) and on "special features" (such as steel toes and slip-resistant soles). it also includes a leather chart and a sole chart so you can easily identify the best configuration for your needs.

Work-Boot Anatomy
The basic work boot consists of a laminated sole attached to a leather upper (photo l). Assorted liners are added to cushion the feet, keep them dry, and insulate them in cold climates.

The typical sole has an outsole topped by a midsole and an insole. The outsole is the first line of defense against hazards underfoot and a key to durability, but all three layers team up to protect and cushion the foot and stabilize the boot.

Materials range from rubber, synthetic rubber, plastic, and leather in outsoles and midsoles to all sorts of cushioning and moisture-wicking materials in the insole. Steel or fiberglass shanks often are incorporated into the sole (mostly in heeled boots) to add rigidity and prevent shovels from hurting your arch when you dig. Fiberglass shanks won't set off metal detectors at airports or on secure building sites.

The best uppers normally are made of full-grain (or top-grain) leather, which can be more durable, waterproof, breathable, and scuff resistant than other types of cowhide. In fact, I can rub out most scuffs on my Wolverine oil-tanned, full-grain leather boots with a finger. On the other hand, Wolverine claims that its comparably priced pigskin "Performance Leather"
(optional in some styles) weighs less, is more flexible, breathes better, and repels water better than full-grain cowhide.

Uppers usually are fastened to soles using either welt, direct-attach, or cement construction (photo2).Welt construction, the traditional choice, stitches the sole to the upper to produce an exceptionally strong boot that can be resoled if necessary.

        The newer direct-attach method fuses the sole to the fibers of the upper to produce a tough, watertight bond. Direct attachment is supposed to subtract weight and add flexibility without compromising durability, but the boots generally can't be resoled. In deference to traditionalists, some direct-attach boots have fake stitching molded into the sole to mimic the appearance of welt construction.

        Cement-bond construction glues the upper and the insole to the outsold It's typically reserved for lighter-duty work wear styled to resemble hiking boots, athletic shoes, or ordinary low-top shoes.

          Some boot manufacturers have developed hybrid construction systems. Wolverine's new "Fusion" system, for instance, combines welt construction with direct attachment for maximum durability and watertightness, but it doesn't allow resoling.

2. Most heavy-duty work boots, such as these Wolverines, feature either sturdy traditional welt construction {left) or the newer lightweight and flexible direct attach construction (right}.