Uniform essentials: slip-resistant footwear reduces accidents, protects bottom line.

As a primary source of injury in the workplace, the occurrence of slip-and-fall accidents--as well as finding out ways to reduce them--should be a top-line concern of any manager. Around the club, slips-and-falls can take place literally anywhere, but are generally more likely in areas where staff members will frequently come into contact with water or other liquids, namely, the kitchen and dining areas, the laundry room, or around the club's pools.

Not only are slips and falls physically dangerous, but according to recent insurance industry estimates they can amount to a $5.7 billion a year problem for employers. As the second leading cause of workplace injury, it is the responsibility of management to do everything within their power to minimize the potential for slippage and to reduce the number of injuries that may result from such accidents. A comprehensive safety program, in addition to providing for such measures as proper signage (e.g., "wet floor," etc.), should also include the utilization of appropriate anti-slip footwear for employees.

As more attention is being paid to the issue of slips-and-falls, manufacturers have come forward with shoe product designs aimed specifically at employees working in conditions ripe for accidents. Improved tread designs and materials used in many of today's work shoe lines give staff members more of what they need to keep their balance in slippery situations--such as in the presence of grease, oil, or dirt.

Better Traction, Better Balance

Shoes For Crews, founded in 1984, is a leading manufacturer of slip-resistant footwear for men and women in the workplace, offering their products to over 100,000 workplaces around the globe. In order to reduce the risk of accidents for the wearer, footwear products from Shoes For Crews feature a patented slip-resistant outsole to provide enhanced traction in wet or greasy floor situations.

Manufacturers generally point out that no shoe will provide a 100 percent safeguard against slip-and-fall accidents and should be used as just one component in a comprehensive fall protection program. Nonetheless, anything that can be done to reduce the risk of just one accident--and the potentially costly workers' compensation claim that can go along with it--is an option worth exploring. To help back up their claims, Shoes For Crews offers a unique "$5,000 Slip & Fall Accident Warranty" that accompanies their slip-resistant products. So, if a business experiences a slip-and-fall accident while using Shoes For Crews products, the company will provide reimbursement up to $5,000 to cover costs stemming from the mishap.

Similarly, Red Wing Shoes provides slip-resistant shoes to the marketplace through their WORX line of footwear products. "WORX is our import brand and is price-sensitive for the benefit of foodservice workers," said Jeff Goodwin, regional sales manager, industrial sales team for Red Wing Shoes. "The tread pattern and materials used in these shoes are specially designed for slip-resistance." The technology used on the WORX slip-resistant shoes is known as SSRT--or "Super Slip-Resistant Technology." The design, which utilizes a star pattern on the sole, offers increased surface area for enhanced grip and traction.

Goodwin continued, "With these shoes, we have also seen a preference from some chefs and members of the kitchen staff to have a steel-toed shoe in addition to the slip-resistant features." A relatively new entrant to the field of slip-resistant footwear, Red Wing Shoes just started providing these types of products "within the last two years," he added.

Other major national brands now offering slip-resistant shoes include Skechers and Rockport.

"We launched our Rockport Works line in July of '06," said Ryan Erickson, director of sales for Rockport. "We have four separate lines of slip-resistant shoes for both men and women, and all of the uppers are made of leather."

Mobile Shoe Fittings

A unique aspect to the operations run by Shoes For Crews and Red Wing Shoes is that both offer programs that can bring product directly to the employer's site. The mobile services division for Shoes For Crews, for instance, performs customized work shoe fitting aboard specially made "shoemobiles" that arrive at a customer's facility.

"The mobile services division is the next step in the evolution of the company's efforts to deliver superior customer service," said Mark Mobley, executive director of Shoes For Crews. The shoemobiles offer selections of 57 different slip-resistant styles, which are available for immediate purchase. Additionally, Shoes For Crews has the ability to set up a voluntary payroll deduction plan, where employees purchase their shoes at no cost to the employer.

Likewise, "at Red Wing, we can distribute our slip-resistant products through our 150 mobile units. Generally, we can arrange a stop if a company has 20 or more employees," Jeff Goodwin said.

Preventing slips and falls is an important concern for your employees and your club's financial health. By exploring the wealth of options that are now available in the realm of slip-resistant footwear, you can make sure that your club--and your staff members--are walking on solid ground.