Comfy Safety Trainers

I’ve been wearing these UVEX ones for the last 5 or 6 years, not the same pair, but they do last really well. I’m doing 15k steps on the days I’m at work, 4 on 4 off.

UVEX SAFETY TRAINERS

1) Your employer should be providing your safety footwear by law, and mine actually prohibits you from sourcing your own, because...

2) Safety footwear is not just a steel/composite toe.  There are a big variety of standards depending on the job, anti static/electrical insulation, oil/fuel/chemical resistance, resistance to piercing such as standing on nails, ankle support etc etc.  Trainers with a steel toecap are unlikely to be acceptable for many employers.

I have to wear some pretty heavy high ankle boots at work but it's rarely my feet that are hot!

Worth checking requirements, we require S3 when safety boots are needed, so those S1 trainers would not be allowed on. Some sites will not allow rigger boots due to a lack of ankle support.

Being mindful of what spec the job actually demands….

I’ve been wearing Cofra trainers  for a job that involves a lot of walking (typically 25-30k steps a day according to my phone) they’re aluminium toecap ones that are a lot lighter than standard. Cofra have  got an absolutely enormous range of styles  - most of them ugly - so it takes a bit of searching to find nice ones. But they’re very good value for money, have worn really well over the last couple of years and are also weirdly silent.

the shoes are great but I don’t rate their insides which are strangely wedged and too high  under the heal but swapping in any decent foot bed from an old pair of trainers makes them great

the weight of my older safety boots were making long days painful - especially on my knees if there was a fair bit of stair climbing - and the lighter ally toes have improved that significantly

I've got some Puma composite safety boots, that are site rated and well comfy. I can do up 30,000 steps some days.

It's through an agency so no kit provided, to be honest the job doesn't really need them but hi viz and toetectors are a requirement of being anywhere on the site, it's just moving cars round the port so no specific safety rating seems to be required, one has certainly never been mentioned.

The Portwest ones we had supplied when I did my pandemic stint on the bins were very comfortable.

I was working for an agency but all uniform and safety kit was supplied. I kept it all at the end as well. I can dress up on bin day to put them at the end of the drive 😂

A quick Google states that you should get the same PPE as regular employees and that the employer or agency will supply the PPE. Only if you a truly self employed (it states this is rare) would you provide your own.

As above, however, if your boots are acceptable, leather and comfortable then I'd stick with them, trainers will stink eventually

@catfood agency work or not your employer MUST provide you with PPE. With safety shoes this may be an allowance towards them. NB this saves you tax.
If you are self employed then OK but if through an agency you are not self employed. Agencies often need to reminded of this! PS check they are paying your holidays properly too.
Edit: and for safety shoes go to Arco and try on a few pairs is often a plan. Screwfix will often let you try and walk round the shop too if you go when it's quiet.

Puma Elevate Knit S1P are comfortable, and not to hot. Defintely better than the Uvex 8512 i had previously.

Slowol, yes they're paying holidays, I had a couple of days holiday pay off them a week or two back, I find it amazing as I've been self employed for the last thirty years and never had a penny towards holidays, they're actually really good and flexible and I just fit a day or two a week around my real job.

I did exactly that in Screwfix when I bought my boots, they let me walk around the shop in them, I really have to try stuff on as as well as wide feet I had an op on one years back and it's still swollen and gets sore if shoes don't fit properly.