What are dielectric shoes?
Their appearance can be that of traditional boots, safety toe boots, or rubber boots. The important thing is that the producer ensures that it is dielectric.
The dielectric shoes prices They are highly dependent on the producer and quality. That is why you can find these types of boots at low prices in Chinese brands or replicas or at high prices made by well-known, high-quality brands that often include other protections such as safety toes, non-slip soles, or ergonomic design.
Utility of dielectric shoes
Put simply, dielectric shoes are designed to aisolate the body and prevent current from flowing through the body in the event of accidental contact with energized electrical conductors, appliances, or circuits. They are part of the electrical protection chain that also includes stands and insulated tools 🔧.
Dielectric shoes are a type of safety footwear, so they also have safety toecaps that can even be made of metal. What provides the electrical insulation is the sole and not the leather or the rest of the body of the shoe.
What to look for when buying dielectric safety shoes
When buying dielectric footwear, it is necessary to verify if they meet the safety requirements you need in your work. See that the boots are certified by international standards such as: ASTM standard F2412-11 and F2413-11 (American Society of Testing Materials), ANSI-Z41 (American National Standards Institute), NTC5529 (Colombian Technical Standard), ISO 20345 S4 among others.
Further: Safety shoes buying guide
Also It is very important to take into account that due to aging or wear the protection can be lost, so it is advisable to periodically check the electrical resistance of the footwear at work.
Look: How to make your boots last longer
Finally, it is also possible to find specific dielectric shoes for women, but they are more difficult to obtain. View women's safety footwear buying guide.
When to wear dielectric safety shoes
In some situations, conventional safety footwear is not enough to meet the needs of security that some workers have. That's when dielectric footwear becomes important.
Dielectric footwear is required in activities where there is a risk of fire or explosion due to a discharge of static electricity. For example, in jobs where you work standing up and are exposed to electrical currents. They should also be used in jobs where touch and step voltages may occur.
This type of footwear is also vital to avoid the electrical potential produced by electrical installations and their different parts, as well as any live electrical device. These are capable of producing electrocutions ⚠ or burns in workers.
These accidents can occur in tasks that involve the manipulation of low, medium and high voltage electrical installations; such as maintenance operations of this type of installations or repairs of electrical devices ⚡.
Some occupations or jobs that should consider the use of dielectric safety shoes are:
- carpenters
- electricians
- machinists
- mechanics
- plumbers
- welders
- packers
- Gardeners
- lumberjacks
- Warehouse workers
Sources 👢:
https://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=STANDARDS&p_id=10120
http://www.safeticorp.com/data/train_img_normal/Foot_Protection.pdf
http://elingenieroelectrico.blogspot.com.co/2014/08/calzado-dielectrico.html
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