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Dear Readers, Welcome to the latest issue of The Magazine
Around the globe, the comfort and safety of the researchers are paramount in the lab, which also means the type of shoes they wear should get some attention. While lab coats, goggles and other accessories draw most of the attention, there is one important aspect of lab safety that doesn’t receive nearly enough attention, and that is the shoes scientists wear. In this article, we will dive deeper into the types of shoes that are appropriate for working in a lab and what are the key factors in deciding on the right type.
Working in a lab offers a different perspective in comparing it to working in an office as the shoes do not only provide comfort, but features that protect the person wearing them while conducting with any chemicals, biological specimens or while using advanced machinery. In most cases, lab shoes can be divided into two categories: closed toes shoes, and slip resistant shoes. Both of these are required to safeguard against hazards such as spillages, sharp instruments, and slipping.
Closed-toe shoes are the key elements while working in the lab as they are recognized a requirement to work inside. Be it sneakers, boots, or strong and durable slippers, when your feet are fully covered, any spillage of chemicals and even biohazards don’t come in contact with the skin.
Lab shoes can be made of leather, rubber or any synthetic material since these are fluids and chemical resistant. These materials will act as a barrier between the shoe and the toxic substances in the laboratory. Non-porous shoes are a requirement when working in a laboratory with corrosive or toxic chemicals.
Quite a number of laboratory settings are filled with spills from liquids or freshly done mops on the floors which creates a high possibility of slipping and one would require non-slip shoes. Such shoes are made with a special sole designed specifically to adhere tightly to the floor, thus minimizing one’s chances of falling or getting injured in turn. Researchers who are used to working in a challenging environment will find slip-resistant shoes particularly helpful.
Also read:Lab Safety Rules in Pharmaceuticals : All you need to know
The feet get a lot of pressure when vasculature procedures are conducted for a long time, thus a scientist needs technology that is both protective and provides comfort. Footwear with features like providing healthy or custom insoles, appropriate ergos, and proper arch support reduces fatigue significantly and improves one’s performance. Comfort-based footwear reduces the occurrence of blisters on the feet or soreness after prolonged standing.
At times when people work in microbiology laboratories, clean rooms and biosafety cabinets, they deal with infectious microbes and hence they require shoes that can be washed and biohazard contamination free.
Many products including footwear are made with rubber or neoprene which is chemically impervious and such footwear is a must for chemists when they are in a laboratory so that they do not wear their shoes which can get them into danger when they get sprinkled or dropped onto them.
In the labs that operate sensitive electronics, antistatic shoes and boots are a must to protect the machines and components from damage caused by electrostatic discharge (ESD) which could result from sweaty hands.
Non-linting lab slippers or boot covers are sometimes worn over the shoes by scientists working in a cleanroom, a pharmaceutical lab or any other settings where contamination has to be controlled. These types are non-bulky and will never allow soil, dust or other contaminants into the class 10 or 100 environment.
Eligibility requirement. Although lab shoes are required to be simple and reasonable, style comes in many forms. Scientists tend to wear fancy and customized shoes that still comply with the safety regulations set up in the laboratory. Why not? All through the vibrancy and character of Sneakers or even custom-made working boots the style and comfort relationship can still be made!
In the realm of Science, the clothing affiliation of a scientist equally matters concerning safety, work and comfort. Lab coats and gloves tend to grab envious attention from everyone but mostly neglected are the shoes. Sandals, closed shoes, slip resisting soles and pulls, special shoe wear and the kind of environment the scientist is working in are the other important factors affecting a researcher’s progress. The next time you are in a lab make sure to take note of the science behind your feet as much as you appreciate the shoes because shoes have science too and they work as if they have hands.
