When you think of PPE, you probably think of gloves. Maybe you envision a hard hat. If you work in a medical facility, you might envision disposable gloves and gowns. When you think about PPE, make sure you remember the parts of your body that come in contact with the dirtiest part of the workplace: your feet. Protective shoe covers are essential PPE for any medical center. These disposable products stop hazardous materials from hitching a ride on your employees’ footwear. Disposable covers also protect your employees from bringing contagions into their home. Moreover, they are vital to PPE for the safety of your workplace and your employees’ homes. What should you be looking for when choosing shoe covers to stock your workplace?
Coverage
Most importantly, make sure your shoe covers actual cover most the shoe. Covers need an elastic top that should come up to the ankle. It’s alright if a few inches along the shoe’s top are visible, but no more. Unfortunately, some shoe covers only protect the bottom half of the shoe. Others, simply can’t handle full sized sneakers, the most popular shoes for nursing and housekeeping staff. Since these two types of employees wear shoe covers more than any others, it’s especially important to ensure your chosen product works for them. Remember, shoes kick up tiny sprays when passing through fluids. Covers that fail to protect the tips and sides of the shoe may allow your employees to track hazardous materials and contaminants throughout the building. They can also end up tracking these contaminants into their own homes.
Non-Slip/Skid Shoe covers
Although disposable shoe covers cannot grip as well as shoe treads, they should not make your employees feel like they are ice skating. Non-slip and non-skid shoe covers save lives and prevent injuries. Ultimately, they save you money by protecting your employees. They also allow your staff to walk with confidence.
It’s important to balance this feature with coverage. Make sure covers are made of material that prevents leaks, but also provides some grip. Although basic plastic sheeting could plausibly function as shoe cover material, it would make even carpet slippery. Most medical facilities use tile or linoleum flooring, which can be slippery, even when dry. In the case of a hazardous liquid spill, your employees must be able to trust in their shoe covers to both protect them from the spill, and to prevent slips.
Your shoe covers prevent accidents, contamination, and the spread of infection. Although it’s easy to forget to protect your feet, shoes and their treads bring contaminants into otherwise sanitary environments. Your employees should always use extra caution around slip hazards, such as spilled fluids, and hazardous materials in general. However, it’s important for your shoe covers to provide protection against slips. This allows employees to focus on the real dangers and not the shortcomings of their PPE. Make sure covers protect as much of the foot as possible. This guards against spills. Last but not least, find a material that provides traction without allowing leaks. This keeps your patients and employees protected.