Safety shoes (labor safety shoes) slip standards
According to the initiative of cen/tc161, the personal protective equipment, safety equipment (iso/tc94) and SC3 jointly agree that: the standard of Safety Shoes for personal protective equipment, EN ISO 20345:2004, the anti-skid test method adopts ISO 13287:2006 standard, and the original standard number is modified to EN ISO 20345:2004/a1:2007. The sliding test condition in this standard is the sliding test between the interface of sodium dodecyl sulfate solution and the glycerol interface of steel plate. The former can be marked as SRA when the test passes, and the latter can be marked through the test. For SRB, both tests can be marked as Src.
The revised standard mandates two critical laboratory tests to evaluate footwear performance. The first simulates low-friction environments using a sodium dodecyl sulfate solution—a common surfactant found in industrial cleaners—to represent slick, soap-contaminated surfaces. Footwear passing this test receive the SRA classification. The second test utilizes a glycerol-coated steel plate to replicate hazards like oil or grease spills; models overcoming this challenge earn SRB certification. Products satisfying both rigorous assessments achieve the highest SRC rating, indicating comprehensive slip resistance across diverse hazardous conditions.
This standardization addresses a critical gap in occupational safety. Slip-and-fall incidents remain a leading cause of industrial injuries, particularly in sectors such as construction, manufacturing, and food processing where surfaces are frequently exposed to liquids or lubricants. By requiring objective, replicable testing under controlled conditions, the new framework ensures Safety Footwear provides reliable traction when workers navigate high-risk environments. Manufacturers must now design outsoles that maintain grip on both chemically treated wet surfaces and viscous, oily substrates—a significant technical advancement from earlier single-condition evaluations.
The SRA/SRB/SRC labeling system allows employers to select footwear tailored to specific workplace hazards, while workers gain clearer visibility into protective capabilities. As global supply chains adopt these unified standards, international consistency in safety compliance is expected to strengthen, fostering safer industrial practices worldwide.
