Received from: College of Podiatry
Congress notes that trade unions have a long history of improving health and safety in the workplace and saving lives and workers from harm.
Congress further notes that members of the Royal College of Podiatry deal with the impact of ill-fitting/wrong footwear from the workforce every day in their practices.
Whether you work on a building site, as a dancer or a professional sports person, access to the right footwear is vital to health of the nation’s feet.
Hazards at work which could lead to injury include oily or slippery floors, or machines which can crush or burn. Other issues such as cold working areas like frozen food stores, or wet conditions, can bring additional problems like chilblains or athlete’s foot.
Health and safety law only requires safety footwear to be worn if there is a real risk of injury. This leaves workers vulnerable as it allows employers to interpret what a ‘real’ risk is and does not take into account professions many people may not immediately consider needing safety footwear.
Congress calls on the TUC to work with the Royal College of Podiatry and other stakeholders to campaign for tighter legislation on safe footwear at work making sure workers’ feet are protected.
Royal College of Podiatry