Rigger Boots

Charlie Peel
Member - 38 posts

Would be interested in the reason these sites are giving if you can find out please post their reasons here Rebecca

James Gibbons
Member - 2 posts

Hi,
See following link to IOSH forum re rigger boot safety:
http://www.iosh.co.uk/index.cfm?go=discussion.view&forum=1&thread=15988
concerns re lack of ankle support

Rebecca Wigley
Member - 2 posts

Hi Charlie,

I have had comments like - They do not meet safety specs, - our site does not allow these boots - they do not support the ankle.

Some people have told me that the legislation has not changed but some site rules are that you must wear a specific boot, which, if it is a site rule, we have no choice but to comply.

I wanted to know becasue I order stock of the rigger.

Charlie Peel
Member - 38 posts

Thanks Rebecca and James - I followed the link you sugggested James and whilst i can see the reasoning behind the need for ankle support what happens about the vast number of workers who wear safety shoes are they to be banned from sites. By the way my mate broke his ankle some years ago - what was he wearing - rigger boots - No - he was wearing high lace up safety boots

Richard Burrows
Member - 4 posts

I read all this with absolute despair - do you know how long its taken the industry to get its workers to turn up in anything but training shoes? Get a life!
Do you really think arguments like this will impress workers and get them on our side?
Rigger boots ( admittedly not my choice) are perfectly acceptable for all site work ( the most important thing is that footwear has decent crush resistance ie steel toe caps ). The degree of ankle support is purely personal choice and no business of any body else's.

Builders and contractors are particularly well skilled at moving over rough terrain - its a basic requirement for the job and all can do it instinctively. Patronsing skilled people in this way will do us no favours what so ever - ridiculous.

Phil Waller
Member - 2 posts

Fact is you have to comply with the site safety rules which apply to the particular site you are visiting or working at.
I wear rigger boots as they have the relevant steel toecap & undersole & are easy to pull on & tuck my suits trouser bottoms into, but I don't do anything more strenuous than walk aroung the site & climb scaffold ladders
I normally only visit sites controlled by the more major builders which are professionally run & I haven't yet come across a rule that insists on lace up boots.
However, it seems to me that most of the guys that actually do the physical work do opt for the full lace up boots as they are obviously more comfortable & provide more support when carrying out physically demanding work.
It seems blatantly obvious why - you wouldn't choose a pull on type rigger boot to go walking or hill climbing on a Sunday would you?
If this is or does become the norm for construction workers it will simply be looked on as the same as wearing hard hat, eye protection, gloves, no shorts, etc - always a few who will whinge but accepted as necessary by the sensible majority.

Anne McAllister
Member - 111 posts

Im not involved in the construction industry but Im jsut wondering if cost is a factor here?
If most of the guys opt for the full lace up boots ,is there any argument about money here?

Kevin Towler
Member - 3 posts

I agree with Phil. When I worked on the roads I use to wear rigger boots for comfort and ease of putting on and taking off. Now that I work on a Civil Engineering site I have to wear lace up boots to conform with our clients satndards but also demostrate to the workforce that I must comply with standards and so should they. I also know of an incident where a person on site tore ligaments just stepping down six inches from a trailer onto uneven ground and he was wearing lace up boots. Employers must be seen to protect their employees from slips and trips on the level.
Regarding cost I had to pay extra to have rigger boots when I worked for a previous company.