What is the difference between S3 or S7 rated safety footwear?

Most people in an industrial or manufacturing setting will need some sort of safety footwear including from impact protection to slip resistance to antistatic properties. So how do you identify these hazards? Use the below checklist to work out what safety rating you need.

SB:
– Dropping hazard.

S1:
– As SB.
– Environments where there is a risk of spark ignition around flammable substances/ vapours. Note: Anti-Static footwear doesn’t guarantee adequate protection against electrical shock.

S2:
– As S1.
– Light exposure to water and wet environments.

S3:
– As S2.
– Nails or sharp objects at ground level or rough or uneven ground.

S7:
- As S3.
- Fully waterproof.