Ice Cleats: When Do You Need to Use Them and How to Select the Right Ones for Your Application
- Dec 7, 2022, 12:10 AM
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Several outdoor work environments require the proper safety footwear and, in many cases, supplemented by ice cleats to further prevent against slips and falls especially in snowy, icy conditions. Ice cleats have proven to be significantly effective in reducing the number of slips, falls and injuries when worn in outdoor work settings where Mother Nature can introduce dangerous and slick terrain.
Moreover, many working conditions include frequent transitioning from outdoors to indoors or in and out of vehicles. Ice cleats, while incredibly effective in helping you get a grip outdoors, pose challenges among workers who shift between indoor and outdoor settings where surfaces can be equally slick. Or for that matter, workers who spend their 9-5 entirely indoors and still require traction support without using metallic cleats that can scuff up flooring and potentially pose damage or additional safety hazards.
With so many different working environments requiring traction aids, how do you know which one is right for you? The questions you need to ask yourself are: What type of footwear will I be using and what are the conditions they will be used in?
Heavy-Duty Traction
Some work environments demand heavy-duty traction due to terrain. This requires an ice cleat that has durable molded-in spikes that are strategically placed to maximize traction. The SureWerx Heavy-Duty Traction Aid by Due North® will keep you grounded. The exclusive rubber compound, integral retention strap, and 14 strategically placed tungsten carbide spikes will help prevent slips and falls even in the most extreme working conditions.
Indoor Traction
And who says traction aids can’t be used indoors? There are many industries like refrigeration, aviation, busing, commercial (flat) roofing, and warehousing and have employees who might not work in the icy, snowy conditions outside, but their indoor conditions are just as slippery. Indoor traction aids are a great solution. They provide the needed traction when working on concrete, tile, or refrigerator floor which can become very slick when frosty or wet. When working indoors in slippery conditions where safety boots and shoes are just not enough, invest in indoor traction aids to provide you with the added grip you need. The award winning SureWerx Due North® GripPro™ Spikeless Traction Aids may be the solution for you.
Intrinsic Traction
Sparking in some environments is a concern with catastrophic consequences. If you work in an environment where you require traction but need something that will not spark look for the K1 Intrinsic models. The SureWerx K1 Series® Intrinsic Ice Cleats is proud to be the only certified spark-proof cleats sold in North America.
Indoor/Outdoor Traction
Many working conditions include frequent transitioning from outdoors to indoors or in and out of vehicles where the use of traditional spikes is not ideal. Designed to penetrate ice and snow, studs are very aggressive, but they can become a serious slip hazard when walking indoors. Furthermore, driving, and certain job tasks require the removal of traction aids to avoid an injury. Indoor/outdoor spikeless traction aids and transitional traction aids are ideal solutions in these scenarios as both these styles can offer support both outside and inside.
Indoor/outdoor spikeless traction aids have a designed tread that allows for traction in both environments. They are ideal for use by any worker alternating between indoor and outdoor settings or those working exclusively in slippery indoor settings such as food processing plants or emergency medical services, as well as workers who frequently need to climb ladders and want to avoid slips a spike may cause due to metal-on-metal friction. Indoor/outdoor spikeless traction aids ensure proper footing at all times and allow for safe entry indoors with the added advantage of protecting the indoor surface from damage.
Transitional Traction
Transitional traction aids allow the user to rotate the traction aid out of the way to transition indoors or while driving and rotate back to the "on" position when needed. Transitional traction aids are convenient in that they never have to be removed from the footwear. Using a mid-sole style ice cleat that can be easily rotated to an "off" position allows for a quick and easy transition. Original, High, Low, and Slim profiles are designed to fit a variety of footwear, no matter the shoe size.
Take the Guess Work out of Choosing the Right Traction Aid
Follow these helpful tips to get your perfect fit https://icecleats.surewerx.com/s/Products or request different types of samples here https://icecleats.surewerx.com/s/request-a-sample. Remember not all ice cleats are created equal. When in doubt, it is always best to speak with a traction specialist to find the right ice cleats to meet your needs.