WHAT IS ESD SHOES & WHEN SHOULD YOU WEAR ESD SAFE SHOES?

ESD shoes are also known as electrostatic dissipative shoes. The purpose of this type of footwear is to reduce static discharge and consequently prevent ESD damage in the workplace.

For specific professions and industries such as electronics manufacturing and Cleanrooms, it’s highly important to wear ESD footwear, particularly in ESD protected areas. ESD shoes are a common requirement in industries that manufacture, produce, test, and handle electronic devices and components. Aside from these, they’re also worn by people in the explosives industry.

Antistatic safety shoes are designed to dissipate static electricity from the wearer to the ground, reducing the risk of electrostatic discharge (ESD) and preventing sparks that could damage sensitive electronic devices or ignite flammable substances.​

• Antistatic shoes have an electrical resistance typically between 0.1 and 1000 MegaOhms, suitable for general static control.
• ESD (Electrostatic Discharge) safety shoes have resistance between 0.1 and 100 MegaOhms, providing enhanced protection in environments with sensitive electronics, as they discharge static much faster.

These shoes are recommended for workers in industries with potential static hazards, such as:

• Electronics manufacturing
• Chemical plants (volatile substances)
• Healthcare (sensitive equipment)
• Petrochemical Industries

• Protection: Modern flyknit safety shoes are available with steel or composite toe caps and may meet the same impact and compression standards as leather safety shoes. Many offer anti-slip, anti-static, and puncture-resistant features that comply with global safety certifications (such as IS 15298, EN ISO 20345, CE).​
• Durability: Leather has natural durability, strength, and water resistance, making it suitable for demanding, outdoor, and wet environments. Flyknit, while highly breathable, flexible, and lightweight, may not provide the same rugged resistance to abrasive conditions or repeated water exposure.​
• Comfort & Breathability: Flyknit excels in terms of comfort, breathability, and reduced weight, making it ideal for indoor, pharmaceutical, logistics, and lighter industrial work. For jobs involving heavy abrasion, chemicals, or consistent moisture, leather or treated microfiber might perform better.​
• Maintenance: Flyknit materials require less maintenance compared to leather, which must be periodically treated for water resistance and durability.​
• Industry Use Cases: Flyknit safety shoes are frequently used in telecom, pharmaceuticals, general manufacturing, logistics, and automotive industries, where extreme abrasion or exposure to chemicals or liquids is not constant

• Steel toe caps offer greater protection against impact and compression, often exceeding basic safety standards.​
• Composite toe caps provide good protection but are generally less robust than steel for extremely heavy loads.​

• Steel toe caps add more weight to footwear, potentially leading to fatigue over a long workday.​​
• Composite toe caps are significantly lighter, offering greater comfort over extended periods.​

• Steel is a conductor of both heat and electricity, which makes it unsuitable for electrical environments or extreme temperatures.​
• Composite materials (plastic, carbon fiber, Kevlar, etc.) provide thermal insulation and are non-conductive, making them safer for electricians and cold environments.​

• Steel toe caps can trigger metal detectors, limiting their use in high-security workspaces 
• Composite toe caps do not interfere with metal detection, offering an advantage for certain industries.​​

• Steel toe caps are usually less expensive and more widely available across designs and sizes.​
• Composite toe caps are typically chosen for higher-specification boots and may cost more.​

Safety shoe sizing varies between men and women due to natural anatomical differences in foot shape and structure.

Men’s safety shoes are typically designed for broader feet — with wider heels, forefeet, and a more substantial overall build.
Women’s safety shoes, on the other hand, are crafted for smaller dimensions, featuring a narrower heel, higher arch, and shorter toe length for a secure and comfortable fit.

In general, a men’s shoe size is approximately one size larger than the equivalent women’s size for the same foot length.

• Foot Shape: Women’s feet are smaller, with higher arches and narrower heels.
   
• Size Range: Men’s safety shoes start from larger reference sizes than women’s.
   
• Non-Interchangeable Fit: A men’s size 8 roughly equals a women’s size 9, but fit and comfort differ due to shape variations.
   

• Anatomical Fit: Women’s feet typically have shorter toes and require more arch and heel support.
   
• Comfort & Safety: Wearing safety shoes designed for the opposite gender can cause discomfort and increase the risk of fatigue or injury.
   
• Proper Sizing: Ill-fitting safety footwear can lead to blisters, long-term foot strain, and compromised protection.