Record temperatures are putting tradie’s attire to the test as scorching conditions take their toll across Aussie job sites.
Every tradie and home renovator knows the aches and pains of spending all day on your feet, especially during those hot summer months.
This year, sizzling temperatures have already wreaked havoc across the country, leading to record temperatures in many Australian cities, including a new national high of 50.7C in the Pilbara town of Onslow earlier this month.
But as the mercury continues to rise, conditions have reached boiling point for many workers who say the temperatures combined with poorly designed work safety gear have created heat-related health and safety risks.
Heat stress can damage construction workers’ health and result in a loss of productivity, costing construction companies significant money and missed deadlines.
In 2019, Australians working outdoors in the construction industry lost over 67,500 potential work hours due to heat stress.
Those workers are often wearing protective gear designed for global markets featuring added weight, over-insulation and poor ventilation and they’re clearly not made to handle the heat.
However, a new breed of foot protection has been designed to combat the oppressive temperatures and offer respite to those toiling under the unforgiving Aussie sun.
The Uvex Safety’s x-flow boot has been specifically designed for the needs of Australian workers in mind, featuring fatigue-relieving measures without skimping out on any safety shielding features.
Its innovative climate control system, Uvex Clima Zone, has been scientifically proven to optimise breathability and internal airflow within the footwear to help keep tradies cool using unique ventilation patterns, layer minimisation and heavily researched material selection.
Uvex director of product and University of Sydney health sciences research associate Dr Caleb Wegener told Build-it that safety footwear design can improve breathability to assist workers in hot climates.
“Footwear design can have a significant impact on physiological strain and can increase risks of heat stress due to the weight, rigidity, and lack of breathability of the footwear,” Dr Wegener said.
Dr Wegener says research and laboratory testing has proved the Uvex X-flow to be up to 15 per cent better at controlling climate and humidity conditions inside the shoe, with 8 out of 10 workers rating the shoe more breathable.
“A holistic approach to the design of safety footwear breathability can improve laboratory measured breathability that is appreciable to workers,” he said.
“Compared to their existing footwear, the improved breathability of safety footwear can make a significant difference for workers in hot environments.”
Combined with a 300C heat, slip and electrical-resistant sole, waterproof surface, and composite toe cap, the Uvex X-flow still includes a gold standard level of protection.
Meanwhile, the Uvex’s i-PUREnrj cushioning system absorbs impact energy during loading and maximises energy return during propulsion to energise workers on those hard yakka days.
Polled wearers said they found features made the boots feel lighter and less fatiguing than their previous generic brands.
For more information on the Uvex Safety range, visit their website.
