Working in the agricultural sector requires care. When compared to other sectors such as construction, agriculture does not seem to have many associated risks. But simple things like dust can be long-term risk factors.
Agriculture often requires working with pesticides and even heavy and dangerous equipment. This makes agriculture an activity with several risk factors for both your body and your feet.
The safety of your feet in this activity cannot be underestimated, therefore, you should choose shoes that are suitable for your work environment. To help stay safe, we list 5 essential PPEs for working in the agricultural sector and explain how to choose the right footwear.
BREATH PROTECTION
Masks are one of the most important PPEs in agriculture.
Constant exposure to dust and pesticides can cause you to develop serious respiratory problems. However, you can prevent these diseases by properly using respiratory protective PPE.
HEARING PROTECTION
As exposure to dust deteriorates your health, exposure to loud sounds can bring you some health issues.
Many farmers work with equipment that generates a lot of noise. Exposure to these loud sounds for long periods of time affects your hearing. If you already have a history of ear canal infections, the risk becomes even greater.
Ear protectors, like earplugs, block out noise and protect your hearing.
FACE PROTECTION
There are several face protection PPEs. Some can protect your whole face, while others only protect your eyes.
Goggles are primarily intended to ensure your health, preventing particles from getting into your eyes or chemicals from splashing and damaging your vision.
The safety visors protect your face entirely. However, it is still recommended to wear the goggles under the visor.
BODY PROTECTION
Chemicals are harmful when in contact with your face and your body.
When working with hazardous products, it is extremely important to wear protective coveralls. This is necessary to protect your entire body and to prevent cross-contamination.
FOOTWEAR
Another PPE that is equally essential for agriculture is footwear.
In this area, it is common to have to work with water in wet terrains. So, it is recommended to wear high waterproof boots, to keep your feet dry. Having wet feet is very uncomfortable and it can cause ringworm, blisters, and smelly feet.
In summer, warm shoes overheat the feet, causing them to perspire and become damp. Choosing shoes with the right material will solve these problems.
Rubber and PVC are very common materials for work boots. However, these are not always the best as they tend to overheat your feet.
Unlike these materials, PU is perfect. It has excellent thermal insulation that allows your feet to stay warm in winter. It is also breathable so, in summer your feet will be cool and dry.
A job as demanding as agriculture requires comfortable shoes to keep your productivity high.
Another precaution you should take with your agricultural footwear is to ensure that it is non-slip and chemical resistant.
Non-slip footwear will assure your safety by preventing slips and falls. On the other hand, chemical resistance will lengthen the boots' life.
You should also consider choosing shoes with a toe cap and a safety insole, as work in this area involves dealing with heavy tools and sharp objects. These can fall on your feet or pierce them.
All these features and many more are present in Dikamar® agricultural boots. See our selection of work shoes for agriculture that we have developed especially for you!