with a slip resistant sole but also provide toe protection, in some cases chainsaw resistance, ankle support, as well as warmth, waterproofness and breathability.

Footwear supplied needs to be made to high and exacting standards to provide a quality product with longevity which will give good value for money. David Cooper-Holmes from WORKWARE comments "It is obviously wiser to select the most technically sophisticated, highest quality products that the budget will allow as this footwear will be more durable and so have a greater lifespan. It's clearly false economy and also illegal to supply footwear which does not conform to

industry standards which is why we only stock quality products from leading safety footwear manufacturer Haix".

In all cases it's vital that occupational or safety footwear should not be purchased unless it meets the standards stipulated under the Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1999. These state that workers should be given footwear that is appropriate for their feet, occupation, and specific to their workplace environment. Manufacturing quality standards, such as EN345: Safety Footwear or EN347: Occupational Footwear, should be clearly visible on labels inside the boot or shoe as they are a vital benchmark for footwear certified for a definite end use.

Worker testing is increasingly important in these current difficult economic conditions when price has become even more of a key factor in any purchasing decision because it helps avoid wastage or a purchase error. After all, unlike garments, such as jackets or mid-layers that can be removed depending on working or climatic conditions, footwear is worn throughout a shift or an entire working day. In the forestry, arboriculture, landscaping and horticulture industries workers often have to work for many hours in foul weather conditions meaning reliable protection from the elements is vital to their ongoing well being.

Wearer comfort is also vital as discomfort from safety or occupational footwear is no laughing matter and in a worst case scenario will result in it not being actually worn at all. Workers who are entitled by law to have their safety or occupational footwear supplied by their employer should as standard be provided with a comfort as well as a safety solution.

An important consideration to footwear comfort is the breathability of footwear supplied.
During an average working day a foot will produce perspiration equivalent to half a cup of liquid, more in hot temperatures or during rigorous work. Gore Workwear, in partnership with leading footwear manufacturers, such as Haix, works to ensure that the protective footwear is produced is of the highest possible quality. Designs and manufacturing techniques are carefully matched to the type of shoe or boots and its intended end use. Meticulous selection of linings, laminates and upper materials goes hand in hand with a careful choice of the type of construction used to incorporate the GORE-TEX membrane into footwear.

The technology which provides the end benefits of breathability, waterproofness and ultimately wearer comfort comes from GORETEX membrane which is made up of 4 billion microscopic pores per square centimetre. Each pore is 20,000 times smaller than a droplet of water but 700 times bigger than a molecule of water vapour. This means that liquid water cannot penetrate the membrane but water vapour, i.e. perspiration, can easily pass through the boot or shoe ensuring that feet stay warm, dry and comfortable.

For outdoor workers in the professional green market sector the supply and use of breathable and waterproof footwear protection from foul weather, such as rain, sleet and snow, will avoid reduction in the core temperature of feet. If the core temperature drops then feet will feel cold which can lead to a lack of concentration and, ultimately, lost working hours.

The comprehensive and hard working range of Haix GORE-TEX footwear from WORKWARE can be viewed online via: http://www.workware.co.uk/byproduct/footwear.html